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Featured Publications
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Summary FY26 Q2
February 26, 2026
The City projects a FY26 General Fund balance of $509.2 million, or 8.1 percent of revenues, supported by a historically high starting balance even as operating deficits grow due to new reserve set asides and $50.0 million in unanticipated snow response costs. Total revenues are projected to be slightly above the Approved FY26–30 Plan for…
Budget Structure and Process
Fact Sheet
Revenue Fact Sheet: Property-related Taxes
February 18, 2026
Philadelphia’s Real Estate Tax and Realty Transfer Tax together generate about one-fifth of General Fund revenues, making them the City’s second largest revenue source. While the Real Estate Tax grows relatively steadily with property values and revaluations, the Realty Transfer Tax is far more volatile, responding sharply to interest rates, transaction volume, and high-value commercial…
Budget Structure and Process
Issue Brief
5 Wishes for the FY27-31 5YP
January 21, 2026
As the City of Philadelphia prepares its FY27–31 Five-Year Financial Plan, PICA outlines five recommendations to strengthen the Plan’s transparency and accuracy and to improve the City’s fiscal condition. These include maintaining reserves and pension funding commitments, scoping initiatives more accurately, ensuring an adequate labor reserve, publishing capital spending data, and making staff vacancy assumptions…
Reserves and Fiscal Stability
White Paper
Caution: Severe Threats to Philadelphia’s Fund Balance Ahead
November 19, 1998
The Caution: Severe Threats to Philadelphia’s Fund Balance Ahead report warns of looming financial risks despite the City’s sixth consecutive year of a positive General Fund balance. It highlights key challenges, including welfare reform, international economic instability, and upcoming labor contract negotiations, which could significantly impact the City’s fiscal stability.
PICA Annual Report
Annual Report
PICA Annual Report FY1998
October 20, 1998
The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) FY98 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 FY99-03 Five-Year Plan
June 9, 1998
PICA's Staff Report on The Five-Year Financial Plan for FY99-03 analyzes Philadelphia’s fiscal challenges, expenditure trends, and policy options to promote financial sustainability.
Government Operations, Efficiency, & Performance
White Paper
Court Unification and State-Wide Funding: Future Five-Year Financial Plan Implications for the City of Philadelphia
January 1, 1998
The Court Unification and State-Wide Funding: Future Five-Year Financial Plan Implications for the City of Philadelphia report analyzes the financial impact of shifting local court funding to the state.
PICA Annual Report
Annual Report
PICA Annual Report FY1997
October 21, 1997
The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) FY97 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 FY98-02 Five-Year Plan
May 20, 1997
PICA's Staff Report on The Five-Year Financial Plan for FY98-02 reviews Philadelphia’s fiscal outlook, emphasizing long-term financial planning, debt management, and municipal workforce efficiency.
Spending Analysis & Outlook
White Paper
Philadelphia Government Costs: Additional Reductions Required
January 9, 1997
The Philadelphia Government Costs: Additional Reductions Required report assesses the City's spending trends, noting that while budget surpluses have been achieved, the overall cost of government has not significantly decreased. It emphasizes the need for structural expenditure reductions in core services, social services, and fixed costs to align with the City’s declining economic base.
Revenue Analysis & Outlook
White Paper
Revenue Stress in the City of Philadelphia
November 20, 1996
The Revenue Stress in the City of Philadelphia report assesses the pressures on Philadelphia’s revenue base and the structural challenges limiting its financial flexibility. It examines economic trends, demographic shifts, and the reliance on volatile tax sources, emphasizing the need for strategic fiscal planning to mitigate future risks.
PICA Annual Report
Annual Report
PICA Annual Report FY1996
October 15, 1996
The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) FY96 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.
Policy Analysis & Issue Briefs
White Paper
Continuing Economic Decline: A Foreboding Future for Philadelphia
October 15, 1996
PICA's Continuing Economic Decline: A Foreboding Future for Philadelphia white paper from FY97 examines the city’s ongoing job and population losses, highlighting the risks these trends pose to revenue generation and service delivery. The report underscores the urgency of reversing economic decline to maintain fiscal stability and sustain critical public services.
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 FY97-01 Five-Year Plan
April 30, 1996
PICA's Staff Report on The Five-Year Financial Plan for FY97-01 reviews Philadelphia’s budget framework, identifying revenue challenges, expenditure trends, and financial risks.
Revenue Analysis & Outlook
Issue Paper
Staff Report on State Funding of the Philadelphia Department of Human Services
December 15, 1995
The State of Funding of the Philadelphia Department of Human Services report examines the financial challenges facing Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services (DHS), with a focus on state funding processes. It highlights issues with Pennsylvania’s needs-based budget system, identifying inefficiencies and inequities that result in unpredictable funding levels and increased financial burdens on the City.
PICA Annual Report
Annual Report
PICA Annual Report FY1995
October 17, 1995
The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) FY95 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 FY96-00 Five-Year Plan
April 17, 1995
PICA's Staff Report on The Five-Year Financial Plan for FY96-00 evaluates Philadelphia’s budgetary outlook, focusing on labor contract negotiations, pension liabilities, and departmental spending controls.
PICA Annual Report
Annual Report
PICA Annual Report FY1994
November 30, 1994
The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) FY94 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 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.
