MAYOR CHERELLE L. PARKER’S “ONE PHILLY BUDGET”: WHAT THIS MEANS FOR PHILADELPHIA’S FUTURE

BY CHARLIE GOEHL | GENERAL BUILDING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s “One Philly Budget” was implemented July 1, promising the City of Philadelphia a budget aimed at improving the city. The budget focuses on five pillars over five years: Public Safety, Clean and Green, Economic Opportunity, Housing, and Education.

On the road to implementation, the five-year fiscal budget was submitted to Philadelphia’s City Council for consideration. Once received, City Council held hearings to discuss and ask questions about aspects of the budget, as well as make changes. By the end of June, City Council approved the budget and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker signed the plan into law, effective July 1, 2024.

The fiscal budget manages money coming from taxes, as well as city agencies and national and state government funds. Wage taxes, property taxes, business income and receipts taxes, real estate taxes and retail sales taxes make up a portion of the budget.

Philadelphia’s FY2025 Budget: A Breakdown

The One Philly Budget invests $2 billion over five years focusing on five areas of city improvement: Public Safety, Clean and Green, Economic Opportunity, Housing, and Education. Each pillar advocates for initiatives specific to of the One Philly Budget with the goal of making Philadelphia the Safest, Cleanest and Greenest Big City in America, with Economic Opportunity for All.

Public Safety

The budget funds public safety initiatives and tackles quality-of-life issues. This includes money for improving neighborhoods and keeping neighborhoods safe to improve the lives of Philadelphia residents. Investments are also being made to reduce crime and gun violence in communities, reducing the cycle of violence in the city.

Clean and Green

The Parker administration emphasizes a clean and green future for Philadelphia, with investments into sanitation and sustainability practices. Carlton Williams, the Director of the new Office of Clean and Green Initiatives, is at the head of this directive, working to eliminate the word “Filthadelphia” from visitors’ and residents’ vocabulary.

Investments into sanitation initiatives focus on cleaning residential and commercial areas of trash, litter, abandoned cars and graffiti in all communities as well as those underserved and under-resourced. The city can expect industrial improvements, like repaving streets, and upgrading SEPTA with the goal of making buses and trains safer, cleaner and greener in mind.

Economic Opportunity

The budget focuses on our city’s economy. Positioning Philadelphia as a better place to do business by investing in the needs of both individuals and businesses alike. Strategic funding into the commercial industry and workforce development creates economic opportunity for the current and future workforce of Philadelphia.

Housing

Increased access to housing helps families obtain stability and build generational wealth and security. Investments in programs that improve homeownership opportunities, home repair programs and emergency shelters advance the goal of helping Philadelphians secure a basic need for shelter.

Education

The budget improves education opportunities, building tomorrow's generation and refining the current workforce. Safe and secure educational facilities and professional development training improve education for students of all ages.

What Does This Mean For Philadelphia’s Labor Industry?

Mayor Parker and City Council are prioritizing making Philadelphia a friendlier place for new businesses, which will inevitably require construction. There are also exciting opportunities for GBCA members in the areas of housing and education.

The budget plans to make large investments in housing, with the goal to making purchasing a home easier for Philadelphians. Part of this plan includes investing money in the construction of new units of affordable housing. With housing and other new construction projects, Mayor Parker has stated her desire to award as many new projects in the city to be built by union labor as possible.

The new budget also calls for an investment of resources to provide job opportunities for the next generation. The includes developing opportunities to expose students to opportunities in the trades. Educating students of careers within the trades and construction industry ensures Philadelphia’s future construction industry remains strong.