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Featured Publications
PICA Conferences and Events
Blog
Recapping PICA’s 2025 Fall Forum: Turning Cooperation into Growth
October 29, 2025
PICA’s 2025 Fall Forum brought together regional leaders to explore how intergovernmental and cross-sector collaboration can drive inclusive economic growth and long-term fiscal stability. Featuring insights from Brookings Metro and economic development experts from Detroit, Atlanta, Columbus, and New York, the event highlighted the importance of coordinated planning, private-sector leadership, and alignment across education, workforce,…
Spending Analysis & Outlook
White Paper
Catalyzing Growth: Tracking Philadelphia’s General Fund Investments in Economic Development
October 23, 2025
Philadelphia has more than doubled its General Fund spending on economic development over the past decade, but lacks a system-wide strategy to evaluate the return on those investments. This publication analyzes how the City reports economic development spending, compares Philadelphia to peer cities, and recommends clearer goals, outcome-based measures, and regular reporting to guide future…
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…
Budget Structure and Process
Fact Sheet
Class 800: Payments to Other Funds
January 17, 2025
Class 800 tracks transfers from the General Fund to other City funds, such as the Water Fund, Housing Trust Fund, and Budget Stabilization Reserve (BSR), as well as operating dollars allocated to capital projects. Spending in this category is highly variable and has grown significantly since FY14 due to new City Charter mandates and expanded…
Budget Structure and Process
Fact Sheet
Class 700: Debt Service
January 17, 2025
This spending category covers the City’s repayment of general obligation debt, including interest, principal, and related costs. From FY14 to FY24, debt service remained stable as a share of the General Fund, averaging 3.3% annually. Most spending supports long-term debt tied to capital investments, with limited use of short-term borrowing due to improved fund balances…
Budget Structure and Process
Fact Sheet
Class 500: Contributions, Indemnities, and Taxes
January 17, 2025
Class 500 covers a range of City payments, including funding for schools and nonprofits, indemnities for lawsuits and accidents, and certain tax obligations. Since FY14, these expenses have more than doubled, largely due to increased contributions to the School District of Philadelphia and the Community College of Philadelphia. While indemnity costs also rose sharply—especially for…
Budget Structure and Process
Fact Sheet
Class 300/400: Materials, Supplies, and Equipment
January 17, 2025
Although a small share of the budget, Class 300/400 spending more than doubled between FY14 and FY24, largely driven by vehicle purchases. The Streets and Fleet Services departments accounted for over 60% of this growth, with additional increases in equipment, uniforms, and digital library materials. Spending patterns reflect post-COVID service expansion and rising costs for…
Budget Structure and Process
Fact Sheet
Class 200: Professional Services
January 17, 2025
Spending on contracted services grew 73% between FY14 and FY24, outpacing overall General Fund growth. Most of the increase came from professional service contracts in departments like Human Services, Public Property, and the Managing Director’s Office, reflecting policy priorities like PHLpreK, SEPTA subsidies, and public safety grants. These contracts offer flexibility to deliver services that…
Budget Structure and Process
Fact Sheet
Class 100: Personal Services
January 17, 2025
The Class 100 Fact Sheet outlines how the City of Philadelphia categorizes and tracks expenditures related to personal services, including wages, salaries, overtime, and benefits for all municipal employees. As the largest budget classification, Class 100 accounted for $3.7 billion, or 60.7% of General Fund spending in FY24, down from 68% in FY14, largely due…
Board Materials
Agenda
Agenda for January 21, 2025 PICA Board Meeting
January 14, 2025
The agenda for the February 25, 2025, board meeting includes a briefing on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, financial updates from the City of Philadelphia, and votes on three resolutions concerning revenue analysis services, PICA’s FY26 operating budget, and general counsel approval. The meeting will also include reports from the Executive Director and Treasurer, as well as a discussion on row offices.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on Quarterly Overtime
Quarterly OT Report FY25 Q1
December 1, 2024
The FY25 Quarterly Overtime Report for Q1 reports a 18% increase in overtime spending from FY24, reaching $70.4 million, with persistent staffing shortages continuing to drive costs.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY25 Q1
November 22, 2024
The first-quarter FY25 QCMR projects General Fund revenues at $6.26 billion, $16.0 million lower than the Five-Year Plan, while obligations are projected at $6.59 billion, $225.0 million higher than expected. The year-end fund balance is now projected at $642.5 million, $74.0 million higher than the Five-Year Plan estimate, representing 10.3% of revenues.
Board Materials
Minutes
Minutes for the Meeting of October 22, 2024
November 19, 2024
The Board approved resolutions for a website redesign by Karma Dharma, a grants administration analysis contract with Guidehouse, and a compensation adjustment for the Executive Director, following an executive session. Updates from the City covered labor negotiations, upcoming financial reports, and changes in leadership, while PICA staff shared updates on recent publications, the FY24 audit,…
Board Materials
Agenda
Agenda for November 19, 2024 PICA Board Meeting
November 19, 2024
The agenda outlines the regular board meeting for November 19, 2024, including reports from the City of Philadelphia, the Executive Director, and the Treasurer. The meeting will also include public comment and discussion of new business.
Policy Analysis & Issue Briefs
Issue Brief
Tariffs and the Philadelphia Budget
November 1, 2024
PICA’s Tariffs and the Philadelphia Budget issue brief examines the potential impact of proposed federal tariffs on the City's economy, revenue streams, and expenditures, with recommendations for mitigation strategies.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet: Philadelphia’s FY24 Annual Financial Report
November 1, 2024
PICA’s Fact Sheet on the City of Philadelphia's FY24 Annual Financial Report (AFR) provides a detailed, unaudited assessment of the City of Philadelphia’s actual revenue, expenditures, and fund balances for the fiscal year. The report reveals a significantly higher General Fund balance of $943 million—well above prior estimates—due to higher-than-expected revenues and lower-than-expected spending, particularly on salaries and benefits.
Budget Structure and Process
Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet: Housing Trust Fund
November 1, 2024
PICA’s Housing Trust Fund Fact Sheet details the City's dedicated funding for affordable housing programs, highlighting a 157% increase in the fund's budget since FY14 and major investments in housing stability, repairs, and development.
Budget Structure and Process
Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet: Grants Revenue Fund
November 1, 2024
PICA’s Grants Revenue Fund Fact Sheet reviews the City's reliance on federal, state, and private grant funding, which accounted for $1.5 billion in revenue in FY23, with the largest share supporting human services and public health programs.
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.