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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…
Government Operations, Efficiency, & Performance
Issue Paper
An Efficiency and Effectiveness Study of the Philadelphia Fire Department
January 1, 2012
The Efficiency and Effectiveness Study of the Philadelphia Fire Department evaluates the department’s operations, identifying areas for improved resource allocation, response times, and service delivery.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY12 Q1
November 18, 2011
The first quarter FY12 QCMR projects General Fund revenues at $3.5 billion, slightly above the Five-Year Plan estimate, but obligations are expected to rise by $9.5 million. The projected year-end fund balance stands at $50.8 million, nearly $10 million below the original estimate.
PICA Annual Report
Annual Report
PICA Annual Report FY2011
November 11, 2011
The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) FY11 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.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY11 Q4
August 18, 2011
The fourth quarter FY11 QCMR projects General Fund revenues to exceed the Five-Year Plan by $46.7 million, while obligations rise by $14.9 million. The final year-end fund balance is estimated at just $3.5 million, significantly below the original projection.
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 FY12-16 Five-Year Plan
July 26, 2011
PICA's Staff Report on The Five-Year Financial Plan for FY12-16 assesses Philadelphia’s financial strategies for maintaining balanced budgets while addressing economic challenges, revenue constraints, and expenditure pressures.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY11 Q3
May 18, 2011
The third quarter FY11 QCMR projects General Fund revenues at $79.5 million above the Five-Year Plan, though obligations are $46.0 million higher than expected. The projected year-end fund balance declines to $5.1 million, reflecting increased personnel costs and slower-than-expected reimbursements.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY11 Q2
February 18, 2011
The second quarter FY11 QCMR projects General Fund revenues to be $84.3 million above the Five-Year Plan, largely due to higher tax collections and intergovernmental aid. However, increased obligations reduce the expected year-end fund balance to $13.5 million, which is $20.4 million below the Plan estimate.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY11 Q1
November 18, 2010
The first quarter FY11 QCMR projects a General Fund balance of $33.7 million, $0.8 million higher than the Five-Year Plan projection. The report attributes this improvement to higher-than-expected tax revenue collections, though rising employee benefit costs remain a concern.
PICA Annual Report
Annual Report
PICA Annual Report FY2010
October 1, 2010
The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) FY10 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.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY10 Q4
August 24, 2010
The fourth quarter FY10 QCMR reports a final year-end deficit of $51.7 million, an $800,000 decline from Q3, with higher-than-expected obligations in employee benefits and street maintenance. Tax collections improved slightly, aided by $27 million from a tax amnesty program.
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 FY11-15 Five-Year Plan
August 10, 2010
PICA's Staff Report on The Five-Year Financial Plan for FY11-15 evaluates the City's revenue and expenditure projections, identifies key financial risks, and assesses the impact of economic conditions on Philadelphia’s budget stability.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY10 Q3
May 18, 2010
The third quarter FY10 QCMR projects a $50.9 million deficit, with ongoing revenue challenges and increased labor and infrastructure costs. Wage Tax collections stabilized slightly, but Sales Tax revenue dropped by another $7.5 million, and expenditures increased for employee benefits and snow removal.
PICA Capital Financing
Bond Documents
2010 Bond Issuance Documents
May 1, 2010
The 2010 Bond Issuance Documents contain the Amended and Restated Indenture of Trust between the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) and Meridian Bank as trustee, covering the issuance and management of bonds. It outlines the authorization, payment mechanisms, security pledges, and covenants related to these bonds, ensuring compliance with financial and legal obligations.
Spending Analysis & Outlook
Issue Paper
The Pennsylvania Convention Center Expansion Project: Financial Impacts for the Commonwealth of Pennslyvania and the City of Philadelphia
April 16, 2010
The Pennsylvania Convention Center Expansion Project report evaluates the financial implications of expanding the Pennsylvania Convention Center, including the shift of fiscal responsibility from the City to the Commonwealth. It discusses the projected costs, anticipated economic benefits, and key challenges related to labor costs and facility management.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY10 Q2
February 18, 2010
The second quarter FY10 QCMR projects a $48.6 million deficit, a worsening of the financial outlook due to lower tax collections and increased spending. Wage and Sales Tax revenues fell, while snow removal costs and legal settlements increased obligations by $31.3 million.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY10 Q1
November 18, 2009
The first quarter FY10 QCMR projects a negative $30.8 million fund balance, driven by weak Wage Tax collections and reductions in state grants. Despite this, the report notes that FY10's financial outlook is better than FY09, but still significantly lower than the Five-Year Plan projection.