Specific reports can be found by searching or filtering our publications.
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…
PICA Governing Documents
PICA Bylaws
Bylaws of the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority
July 18, 1994
PICA's Bylaws goverrn how the organization is run and structured. It outlines the members of the Board, how meetins occur, and other aspects of the operations of 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 FY95-99 Five-Year Plan
May 2, 1994
PICA's Staff Report on The Five-Year Financial Plan for FY95-99 assesses Philadelphia’s financial health, analyzing projected revenue streams, expenditure obligations, and fiscal risks over a five-year period.
PICA Annual Report
Annual Report
PICA Annual Report FY1993
November 1, 1993
The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) FY93 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 FY94-98 Five-Year Plan
April 14, 1993
PICA's Staff Report on The Five-Year Financial Plan for FY94-98 reviews Philadelphia’s fiscal policies, revenue projections, and budget challenges, focusing on expenditure management and debt obligations.
PICA Annual Report
Annual Report
PICA Annual Report FY1992
October 31, 1992
The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) FY92 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 FY92-96 Five-Year Plan
June 4, 1992
PICA's Staff Report on The Five-Year Financial Plan for FY92-96 assesses Philadelphia’s revenue streams, expenditure trends, and financial challenges while outlining budget priorities and risk management strategies.
PICA Governing Documents
PICA Act
Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority Act for Cities of the First Class, as Amended 2022
June 5, 1991
The PICA Act is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania statute, originally passed in 1991 and most recently amended in 2022, that established PICA. It outlines the reasons why PICA is necessary and the structure and role of the Authority, as well as requirements for the City of Philadelphia.