April 17, 2025
Although Philadelphia City Council did not have a Stated meeting this Thursday due to the Easter holiday, the body still had a busy week.
For a complete rundown of all resolutions and bills in front of Council now, go to City Council’s Legislative Information Center.
COUNCIL HEARINGS ON MAYOR CHERELLE PARKER’S PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET CONTINUED THIS WEEK
This was the fourth week of hearings on Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s proposed $6.7 Billion Fiscal Year 2026 budget in City Council.
The first day of hearings (April 15) featured the City’s Offices of Planning and Development, Commerce, Public Property and Fleet Services.
During questioning of the Commerce Department, Council members were concerned about a proposal in the budget that would require small businesses to pay taxes from which they were previously exempt. It would eliminate a tax exemption on the first $100,000 of business income that allowed many small businesses in Philadelphia to avoid filing at all.
To help small businesses, Commerce Director Alba Martinez said the mayor has proposed creating a $30 million fund to support small businesses with education and tax filing help.
While an estimated 75,000 businesses would be affected by the tax exemption elimination, only 11,000 would receive services from the new fund. Martinez said $10 million of the fund would help all the businesses help file the taxes and she said the average tax bill due would be about $300.
The 11,000 businesses selected for additional help would share the remaining $20 million.
The final day of hearings this week (April 16) featured the Free Library of Philadelphia, Parks and Recreation and SEPTA.
Last week, SEPTA unveiled a budget proposal that included deep cuts to services across the board, including fare increases and the shutting down all rail services by 9 p.m. if SEPTA does not get significant funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The cuts would begin on August 24 and a 21% fare increase would begin on September 1. SEPTA is facing a $213 million structural deficit.
During the SEPTA hearing, City Council President Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District) and other members urged SEPTA’s Interim General Manager Scott Sauer to meet with Pennsylvania State Senate Republican Majority Leader, Sen. Joe Pittman (Armstrong, Indiana, Jefferson and Westmoreland Counties) either at the State Capitol or bring him to Philadelphia to tour the transit system and discuss its importance to Pennsylvania.
Sauer said he would like to meet with Pittman and will continue to make trips to the State Capitol in coming weeks. Members of Council are supportive of SEPTA during their fiscal crisis, but many members were concerned about the way SEPTA has spent money in past years.
Mayor Parker’s Fiscal Year 2026 spending plan wants to give $135 million in operating support for SEPTA, up $2 million from the current year. Local operating support also comes from Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery County in the Philadelphia suburbs and Philadelphia’s share is more than 80% of the total local money.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has proposed in his Fiscal Year 2026 budget to give mass transit more than $300 million statewide. About $168 million would go to SEPTA, which would help stop the planned service cuts. Previous attempts to boost transit funding have been approved by the Democratic-lead State House but have stalled in the GOP-led Pennsylvania Senate.
The hearings on the proposed Operating and Capital Budget with Parker administration leadership are meant to Philadelphians better understand the mayor’s spending proposal.
All FY 2026 budget hearings are held before the Committee of the Whole, chaired by Council President Kenyatta Johnson (Second District). These hearings include testimony from department heads and independently elected offices to support their proposed budgets and answer questions from councilmembers.
The City’s budget is the mayoral administration’s plan for spending, adjusted as needed to obtain City Council approval and passage before the start of each fiscal year beginning on July 1.
During the Budget hearings, City Council also holds public comment sessions for residents to provide feedback on the proposed budget. The days for public comment at City Hall will be April 30 and May 13-14.
Before the budget is approved, City Council may adjust funding levels for departments and programs.
City Council passes legislation approving the new budget before the end of the current (Fiscal Year 2025) budget on June 30, and the mayor signs the adopted budget legislation. Fiscal Year 2026 starts on July 1.
To learn more about Mayor Parker’s budget address, Operating and Capital Budgets, proposed FY25-30 Five Year Plan and dates/times/locations of Neighborhood Budget Town halls, visit City Council’s FY 2026 budget page. The FY 2026 Budget Hearing Schedule is subject to change so check back often for updates.
THE LATEST NEIGHBORHOOD BUDGET TOWN HALL WAS HELD ON APRIL 14
The second of this year’s City Council Neighborhood Budget Town Hall took place on April 14 at the Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Center in the city’s Nicetown section. The event was co-sponsored by Council President Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District), and Councilmembers Cindy Bass (8th District) and Curtis Jones, Jr. (4th District).
Council President Johnson estimated 200 people attended the Town Hall.
Some of the remaining Neighborhood Budget Town Hall dates are:
- April 22, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Julia De Burgos Elementary School, 401 West Lehigh Avenue, co-sponsored by members of the Kensington Caucus – Councilmembers Mark Squilla (1st District), Mike Driscoll (6th District), Quetcy Lozada (7th District) and Jim Harrity (At-Large).
- May 1, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oak Lane Presbyterian Church, 6637 North 11th St. (corner of 11th Street and Oak Lane). co-sponsored by Councilmember Anthony Phillips (9th District).
All City Council budget hearings inside City Hall will air live on Xfinity Ch. 64, Fios Channel 40, and stream at www.PHLCouncil.com/watch. Neighborhood Budget Hearings are also being recorded by PHL GOV TV and will air on Channel 64 at a future date and are available to watch on City Council’s FY 2026 budget page.
CITY COUNCIL HELD TWO COMMITTEE HEARINGS THIS WEEK
Council’s Committee on Legislative Oversight held a hearing at The Museum of the American Revolution in Old City concerning Resolution #240701 which assesses the current state of Philadelphia’s preparations for the multitude of events being held across the City throughout 2026, including the celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday.
Councilmember Isaiah Thomas (At-Large), chair of the Legislative Oversight Committee held the hearing to make sure Philadelphia is prepared for 2026. The city will host several FIFA World Cup Games, America’s 250th birthday and the Major League Baseball All-Star game that year.
The hearing included a big picture preview of 2026, overview of large-scale events with explanations of how residents and businesses can participate, and summary of how SEPTA and other transportation systems will bring people to Philadelphia and help them get around.
Among those who testified at the hearing were Michael Newmuis, 2026 Director, City of Philadelphia; Jazelle Jones, City Representative, City of Philadelphia; Angela Val, President & CEO, Visit Philly; Kathryn Ott Lovel, President & CEO, Philadelphia 250 and Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation; Gregg Caren, President & CEO, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau; Meg Kane, Host City Executive/CEO and Jonathon Tod, Philadelphia Soccer 2026; Bumi Fernandez-West, CEO, ODUNDE; Atif Saaed, CEO Philadelphia International Airport and Sauer, SEPTA Interim General Manager.
Council’s Rules Committee, chaired by Councilmember Cindy Bass (8th District), voted four bills out of committee (Bills #250207, #250242, #250243, #250244), three of the bills (#250242, #250243, #250244) will repeal legislation passed by Council last year allowing an arena for the Philadelphia 76ersn in Center City. Bill #250207 was introduced by Councilmember Mark Squilla (1st district) and Bills #250242, #250243 and #250244 were introduced by Squilla on behalf of Council President Johnson.
The four bills are expected to get a first reading on the Council floor at the April 24 session and then come up for a final passage vote as soon as the May 1 Council session.
Council approved bills and resolutions for the Sixers arena back in December 2024. Several weeks later, the Sixers announced they had reached an agreement to stay in South Philadelphia, where the team currently plays at the Wells Fargo Center. The team owners struck a deal with Comcast Spectacor, which owns the arena, to construct a new building in the current South Philadelphia sports complex.
The Sports Complex is in Council President Johnson’s district. Council will have to approve any new legislation for the sports complex, but there is no word when Council will take up any new legislation.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON IS HOSTING A CITYWIDE JOB FAIR ON APRIL 25
Council President Kenyatta Johnson’s job fair will be held on Friday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Vare Recreation Center, 26th and Moore Streets in South Philadelphia.
If you or a loved one are looking for a job, they will have close to 40 different employers on site, including the School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia International Airport, SEPTA, PGW, the Free Library, Parks and Recreation Department, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and much more.
The job fair is for ALL ages – from teens, young adults and older adults – so bring the whole family.
For more information, contact Johnson’s District Office at 215-686-3412.
THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL SESSION WILL BE ON THURSDAY, APRIL 24
All the members of City Council wish everyone a Happy Passover and Happy Easter holiday. Council offices were closed on Friday, April 18 for Good Friday and will reopen on Monday, April 21.
The next Regular Stated City Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 24 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time at Philadelphia City Council Chambers, Room 400 (Fourth Floor), Philadelphia City Hall.
Tune in live on March 24 and 27 by watching Xfinity Channel 64 and Fios Channel 40 if you have cable TV in Philadelphia, stream online at www.PHLCouncil.com/watch or listen to WURD Radio (900 AM/96.1 FM) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Source: phlcouncil.com…