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Featured Publications
Reserves and Fiscal Stability
Issue Paper
Ranking Reserves: Benchmarking Philadelphia’s Financial Cushion
October 15, 2025
Philadelphia’s reserves improved significantly between FY20 and FY24, reaching 18 percent of General Fund revenues, the highest level in City history, but still below the median among ten peer cities. Despite this progress, projections in the FY26 to FY30 Five-Year Plan show reserves steadily declining, which may limit the City’s ability to respond to future…
PICA Annual Report
Annual Report
PICA Annual Report FY2025
October 8, 2025
In FY25, PICA fulfilled its oversight responsibilities by approving the City’s Five-Year Financial Plan and analyzing quarterly trends in revenues, expenditures, and fund balances. PICA expanded its research agenda to include capital transparency, bond spending, and grants administration, producing accessible reports and fact sheets to inform the public. PICA also modernized its operations by upgrading…
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 FY26-30 Five-Year Financial Plan
July 28, 2025
PICA’s Staff Report recommends PICA Board approval of the City of Philadelphia’s FY26–30 Five-Year Plan because it meets the requirements of the PICA Act, projecting positive year-end fund balances despite planned operating deficits from FY26 to FY29. The report highlights reasonable economic and revenue assumptions, the City’s continued investments in reserves, and the substantial $379…
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.
Government Operations, Efficiency, & Performance
Issues Report
A History We Can No Longer Afford: Consolidating Philadelphia’s Row Offices
November 2, 2009
A History We Can No Longer Afford: Consolidating Philadelphia’s Row Offices Issue Report examines the financial inefficiencies of maintaining four independently elected row offices and estimates potential savings of $13-15 million annually.
PICA Annual Report
Annual Report
PICA Annual Report FY2009
October 21, 2009
The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) FY09 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 Five-Year Plan
Staff Report on the City of Philadelphia's Five-Year Plan
PICA Staff Report on the City of Philadelphia’s FY10-14 Five-Year Plan
July 21, 2009
PICA's Staff Report on The Five-Year Financial Plan for FY10-14 outlines Philadelphia’s revenue and expenditure forecasts, addressing key financial risks and strategies for maintaining balanced budgets across fiscal years 2010-2014.