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Philadelphia’s Fiscal Impact Requirement Fairly Limited

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Our latest Brief addresses the proposal for legislation in Pittsburgh to undergo the requirement of a fiscal impact study.  These are done regularly in the PA General Assembly, but wanted to know about the local level.  We contacted Philadelphia and spoke with their Budget and Program Evaluation in the Office of Finance.  It turns out that in 2013 an ordinance calling for fiscal impact statements was passed and signed into law.

While Pittsburgh’s proposal would apply to all ordinances, resolutions, and executive orders, Philadelphia calls for fiscal impact statements on ordinances other than those making an appropriation, and it is only done at the request of the sponsor of the bill or by three other members of Council (there are 17 total) and either the Finance Director or the Controller can conduct the study.  The statement is to be completed within a specified time period from when either the bill is forwarded or when the first committee hearing on the bill is held.

According to the Budget office one such impact statement has been completed to date and that dealt with a tax abatement program.

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Allegheny Institute
Allegheny Institute

The Allegheny Institute is a non-profit research and education organization. Our mission is to defend the interests of taxpayers, citizens and businesses against an increasingly burdensome and intrusive government.

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