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Featured Publications
Budget Structure and Process
Issue Brief
When is a Budget Cut Not a Budget Cut?
March 31, 2025
A proposed budget reduction isn’t always a true cut—sometimes it reflects the end of one-time costs, a shift in responsibility to another department, or reduced demand for services. For instance, FY26 budgets for Parks & Recreation and Homeless Services are lower than FY25, but not all changes imply service reductions. To discern real impacts, stakeholders…
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Five-Year Plan
Fact Sheet
Proposed FY26-30 Five-Year Plan Fiscal Highlights
March 20, 2025
The City projects declining fund balances and annual operating deficits through FY29, before returning to surplus in FY30, with reserves falling below recommended thresholds in most years. Revenue is expected to grow by 9.6% over the Plan period, while spending will rise just 1.9%, driven largely by wage and benefit costs. The Plan includes $337…
Revenue Analysis & Outlook
Issue Brief
Precision in Projections: Evaluating Philadelphia’s Tax Revenue Forecasts and Volatility
February 3, 2025
Philadelphia’s largest tax streams—Wage and Earnings and Real Estate—are forecasted with high accuracy, typically within three percent of actual results. In contrast, smaller and more volatile revenue sources like the Realty Transfer and Amusement Taxes show far greater forecasting errors, reflecting their sensitivity to economic shifts and one-off events. By comparing 21 years of projections…
Board Materials
Resolution
Resolution 2025-06 Approving Executive Director Compensation
October 22, 2024
PICA approved a 4.25% salary increase for Executive Director Marisa Waxman, raising her base salary effective November 1, 2024. The resolution also adjusts her vacation leave accrual rate to 9.3% of regular hours worked, capped at 24.3 days per year.
Board Materials
Resolution
Resolution 2025-04 Approval of Website Design Services
October 22, 2024
PICA selected Karma Dharma to provide website design services, following a competitive RFP process in which 14 proposals were evaluated. The contract, valued at up to $30,000, includes the redesign of PICA’s website and four one-year renewal options at PICA’s discretion.
PICA Annual Report
Annual Report
PICA Annual Report FY2024
October 4, 2024
The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) FY24 Annual Report provides an overview of the Authority's activities, financial oversight, and analysis of the City of Philadelphia’s fiscal condition over the past year. It includes key findings from PICA’s financial reviews, budget analyses, and policy recommendations aimed at ensuring the City's long-term financial stability as well as the Authority's financial statements and report from its auditors.
Budget Structure and Process
Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet: Transportation Fund
October 1, 2024
PICA’s Transportation Fund Fact Sheet examines the newly created fund, which centralizes revenue sources for street paving and transportation investments, reducing reliance on the General Fund.
Budget Structure and Process
Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet: Capital Budget
October 1, 2024
PICA’s Capital Budget Fact Sheet outlines the City's planned infrastructure investments, highlighting $8.3 billion in commitments over six years for non-enterprise funds and major allocations for transit and streets projects.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
Annual OT Report
FY24 Annual Overtime Report
October 1, 2024
PICA’s FY24 Annual Overtime Report analyzes the City of Philadelphia’s $262.2 million in overtime spending, which accounted for 12.0% of Class 100 obligations. The report examines key cost drivers, departmental underspending, and the continued impact of staffing vacancies.
Spending Analysis & Outlook
Issue Brief
Mind the Gap: Measuring the Accuracy of Spending Projections
September 1, 2024
PICA’s Measuring the Accuracy of Spending Projections issue brief assesses Philadelphia’s ability to project expenditures, finding it is the second-most accurate among 15 peer cities, with a mean error of ±2.0%.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY24 Q4
August 18, 2024
The fourth quarter FY24 QCMR projects General Fund revenues at $5.95 billion, $66.5 million below the Five-Year Plan, while obligations have increased to $6.34 billion, $140.1 million higher than projected. The final year-end fund balance is estimated at $628.0 million, $99.0 million above the Five-Year Plan, representing 10.6% of revenues.
Government Operations, Efficiency, & Performance
Issue Brief
PICA Celebrates Police Court Overtime Progress
August 1, 2024
The FY25 Police Court Overtime Progress report highlights the City’s successful efforts in reducing excessive overtime costs related to police testimony, achieving an $8 million reduction since FY18.
Board Materials
Resolution
Resolution 2025-03 Approval of FY25 Board Meeting Schedule
July 25, 2024
PICA approved its meeting schedule for FY2025 and set the annual meeting date for FY2026, ensuring compliance with the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act. The resolution formalizes meeting dates, times, and locations for the Authority’s fiscal year.
Board Materials
Resolution
Resolution 2025-02 Election of Board Officers
July 25, 2024
PICA elected its officers for a one-year term, appointing Mr. Vaughan as Chairperson, Mr. Kessler as Vice Chairperson, Mr. Karp as Secretary/Treasurer, and Ms. Sutch as Assistant Secretary/Treasurer. This election, held at the Board’s annual meeting, aligns with PICA’s bylaws and statutory requirements.
Board Materials
Resolution
Resolution 2025-01 Approval of FY25-29 Five-Year Plan
July 25, 2024
PICA approved the City of Philadelphia’s FY2025-FY2029 Five-Year Financial Plan, confirming that it meets statutory requirements. The approval ensures that the City’s financial projections and budget planning align with legal and fiscal standards.
Board Materials
Minutes
July 25, 2024 Board Meeting Minutes
July 25, 2024
The PICA Board met on July 25, 2024, to approve the FY2025-2029 Five-Year Financial Plan, elect Board Officers, and approve the FY25 Board Meeting Calendar. The Board discussed financial risks, including staffing shortages, pension obligations, and declining fund balances.
Board Materials
Agenda
Agenda for July 25, 2024 Annual PICA Board Meeting
July 25, 2024
The July 25, 2024, meeting agenda includes reports, public comment, and votes on resolutions approving the Five-Year Plan, Board Officer elections, and the FY25 Board Meeting Schedule. The Board will also review updates from the City of Philadelphia.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Five-Year Plan
Fact Sheet
Resumen Ejecutivo del Plan Quinquenal de la Ciudad de Filadelfia AF25-29
July 25, 2024
El informe del personal de PICA recomienda la aprobación del Plan Quinquenal de los Años Fiscales 2025-2029 de la Ciudad de Filadelfia, ya que cumple con los criterios de la Ley de PICA. Destaca saldos de fondos positivos, una calificación crediticia mejorada, contribuciones al Fondo de Estabilización Presupuestaria y el progreso hacia la plena financiación del sistema de pensionesResumen-Ejecutivo-PICA-….
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Five-Year Plan
Staff Report on the City of Philadelphia's Five-Year Plan
PICA Staff Report on the City of Philadelphia’s FY25-29 Five-Year Plan
July 25, 2024
PICA's Staff Report on The Five-Year Financial Plan for FY25-29 presents Philadelphia’s fiscal outlook, revenue and expenditure projections, and potential budgetary risks over a five-year period.