CITY COUNCIL SETS HEARING SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 CITY BUDGET

In Council News, Darrell L. Clarke, News by admin

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – City Council today released a Budget Hearings Schedule to consider the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Proposal delivered by Mayor Kenney to Council last week.

The first budget hearing will take place on Wednesday, April 6, 2022 beginning at 10:00 a.m. The first day will focus on the city’s proposed Five-Year Financial and Strategic Plan, the Six-Year Capital Budget program, the Mayor’s Office, and also the city Finance Director. The budget hearings will be held remotely using Microsoft Teams. All hearings can be viewed on Xfinity Ch. 64, Fios Ch. 40 or live streamed at www.PHLCouncil.com/watch.

The budget hearings are currently scheduled from April 6 through May 25. The exact dates and times, and subject matter for each hearing, can be found in the FY2023 Budget Schedule.

There are three scheduled virtual public testimony sessions. One session will be dedicated to the School District of Philadelphia (May 4), one is dedicated to tax and revenue measures (May 9), and one for general operating budget matters (May 24).

Speakers interested in making public testimony should call 215-686-3407 or email [email protected] prior to the public testimony session at which they wish to speak and submit the following information:

  • Full name
  • Callback telephone number where you can be reached
  • Identify the bill number or resolution number or numbers that will be addressed.

City Council will have all written testimony submitted by department heads, agencies, etc. available at its FY2023 Budget Center: www.phlcouncil.com/budget2023.

Council President Darrell L. Clarke (5th District) welcomed the onset of the annual budget hearings – a core responsibility of City Council. He said he believed a priority of Council in the upcoming hearings will be on ensuring an equitable, ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing gun violence, reducing poverty, and making sure that city programs are focused on creating employment opportunities for all Philadelphians.

“These are urgent times in Philadelphia,” Clarke said. “We still have far too many people living in poverty, and too much gun violence plaguing our neighborhoods, making residents feel unsafe. The demand for affordable housing has never been higher. And as we emerge from the pandemic, people need jobs paying a living wage.”

“These are our priorities as Council begins budget hearings tomorrow: What does every line in this budget do to lift people out of poverty, make communities safe, prevent gun violence, develop affordable housing, and ensure job opportunities for our citizens?”

“We also must look carefully at this budget to ensure we’re spending wisely the Federal funds made available by the Biden administration due to the pandemic,” Clarke concluded. “People need hope and opportunity as we recover; that’s what these funds are for. Let’s get to work.”

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