Policy
Cherelle Parker’s $6.29 billion budget – by the numbers
The Philadelphia mayor is delivering her budget plan to City Council Thursday
Cherelle Parker is seen during her first press conference after winning the Democratic nomination for mayor in Philadelphia on May 22, 2023 in Philadelphia Gilbert Carrasquillo | GC Images
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker has released her $6.29 billion budget plan for fiscal year 2024-2025, featuring unchanged tax rates and increased investment in law enforcement and citywide cleaning efforts, alongside her five-year vision for the city.
The proposal – slightly larger than former Mayor Jim Kenney’s last budget, which totaled $6.2 billion – focuses on Parker’s campaign promise to make Philadelphia the “safest, cleanest, greenest big city in the nation with economic opportunity for all,” directing $2 billion over five years toward her top priorities. The plan also proposes increasing the School District of Philadelphia’s share of real estate tax revenue from 55% to 56%, which is estimated to bring an additional $119 million to the district over five years.
City Council will begin holding budget hearings and negotiate behind closed doors to reach an agreement by the end of the fiscal year on June 30. Upon final approval, the budget will take effect July 1. Here are some key figures:
Public Safety
- $15 million for more than 200 new police cars
- $2.7 million for drones
- $1.4 million for upgrades to investigative tools
- $45 million in capital funds to upgrade forensic labs
- $25 million for grassroots organizations that work with vulnerable populations and in neighborhoods most affected by crime
- Funding for 15 new 911 dispatchers, 10 community outreach positions and nine new victim advocates
Streets and Cleaning
- $250 million for the Streets Department to accelerate street paving and curb ramp replacement
- $100 million over five years for the Taking Care of Business Program
City Services
- $100 million for new drug treatment “triage facilities,” where the city is expected to create spaces where police and outreach workers can meet with substance users and attempt to connect them to a long-term recovery program or face arrest
- $16 million in added funding for the Office of Homeless Services
Additional funds
- $10 million in new funding for the Community College of Philadelphia to avoid a tuition increase
- $150 million over five years to make improvements to parks and recreation centers
- $431 million over five years for future labor costs