Taxes and Budget
Seventy works to provide access to information on Philadelphia taxing and budgeting activities.
What We're Doing
Seventy diligently monitors the City's taxing and budgeting activity year-round, and provides you with the resources to view that activity.
Why We Care
Nobody likes to pay taxes. Worse, nobody wants those tax dollars spent wastefully or fraudulently. Shining a spotlight on how the government spends your tax dollars is at the heart of Seventy’s watchdog mission.
How it Works
We diligently monitor City Hall year-round, particularly during budget season in the spring. Around this time, the Mayor proposes a spending plan for the next fiscal year. Subsequently, City Council holds a hearing on the proposed plan, amends it, and then adopts it.
Important Resources
Office of the Director of Finance
The Office of the Director of Finance is the chief agency responsible for Philadelphia’s finances, accounting, and budgeting within the executive branch of the city’s government.
Open Budget Tool
The Open Budget Tool provides a quick overview of the city’s budget for users to explore.
City Council's Budget Center
Philadelphia City Council’s Budget Center includes proposed operating and capital budgets for the city. Moreover, it provides hearing schedules, specific budget information, and testimony by department.
Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA)
The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) was established in 1991 to help Philadelphia recover from a severe financial crisis. The Board and staff at PICA continue to provide yearly oversight by reviewing and approving the city’s five-year financial plan.
Recent News
April 02, 2024
Committee of Seventy Awarded $900,000 in Grant Funding
The Committee of Seventy announced that it has been awarded major grants totaling $900,000 to support its work to strengthen democracy, elections and civic education in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. This includes an $800,000 grant from William Penn Foundation, matching their previous investment from 2022—the largest grant Seventy ever received in its history. Seventy will also receive $80,000 from the Agua Fund, and $20,000 from CivXNow, a project of iCivics.
March 13, 2024
Committee of Seventy Releases Columns From Transition Sessions for Mayor and City Council
The Committee of Seventy, with support from the William Penn Foundation, hosted a series of briefings beginning in the fall of 2023 to help manage upcoming transitions into office for the Mayor and City Council. In an effort to share insights from the briefings with the public, Seventy released several columns on the sessions written by Dave Davies.
February 29, 2024
Committee of Seventy Launches Poll Worker and Poll Watcher Information Sessions
For the fourth consecutive year, the Committee of Seventy, in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, launched its poll worker and poll watcher virtual information sessions in advance of the April 23, 2024 primary election. Between March 1st and April 22nd, Seventy and the LWVPA will host nearly 30 sessions designed for both new and experienced poll workers and poll watchers.
January 10, 2024
Committee of Seventy Releases Statement on Changes in Philadelphia City Commissioner’s Office
Committee of Seventy President and CEO Lauren Cristella released a statement regarding the appointment of City Commissioner Omar Sabir as Chairperson and Stephanie Reid as Director of Election Administration of the Philadelphia City Commissioners.
December 14, 2023
Committee of Seventy's Response to Philadelphia Ethics Board Announcement
C70's response to Ethics Board Announcement regarding their Campaign Finance Regulation (Regulation No. 1)
