COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Monday, April 20, 2026 9:40 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA, CHAIR COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON, VICE-CHAIR COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER COUNCILWOMAN QUETCY M. LOZADA
Welcome to the hearing on the Committee of Appropriations today, Thursday, April 16th. I note for the record we now have a quorum. To my left, Councilmember Gauthier, Councilmember Bass. To my right, Councilmember Thomas, Councilmember Lozada. A quorum of the committee is now present. The hearing is now called to order. This is a public hearing of the Committee on Appropriations regarding Bill Nos. 202 -- hold on. Clerk, please read the bills that we're hearing today. I can't see.
Bill 260213, to amend Bill No. 250198 (approved June 13, 2025), entitled "An Ordinance To adopt a Capital Program for the six Fiscal Years 2026-2031 inclusive," by revising various appropriation amounts and totals, all under certain terms and conditions. And Bill No. 260214, to amend Bill No. 250197 (approved June 13, 2025), entitled "An Ordinance To adopt a Fiscal 2026 Capital Budget," by revising various appropriation amounts and totals, all under certain terms and conditions. And Bill No. 260215, Authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2026 from: the General Fund, the Water Fund, the Transportation Fund, and the Grants Revenue Fund, all from certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions; to: the General Fund, the Water Fund, the Special Gasoline Tax Fund, the Grants Revenue Fund, the Aviation Fund, and the Transportation Fund, all to certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions.
Thank you, Mr. McMonagle. Please call the first panel to testify on these bills.
Can we please have Sabrina Maynard. (Witness approached witness table.)
Thank you, Sabrina. Can you state your name for the record and then proceed with your testimony.
Sure. Good afternoon. I'm Sabrina Maynard, City Budget Director. Good afternoon, Chair Squilla and members of the Appropriations Committee. I'm Sabrina Maynard, City's Budget Director. I'm here to testify in support of several bills, Bill No. 260215, which is a proposed FY26 spring mid-year transfer ordinance; Bill No. 4 260213, amending Bill No. 250198 entitled, An ordinance to adopt a Capital Program for the six Fiscal Years FY2026 through 2031, inclusive; and Bill No. 260214, amending Bill No. 250197 entitled, An ordinance to adopt a Fiscal 2026 capital budget by revising various appropriations, amounts and totals, all under certain terms and conditions. I am joined by representatives from departments that have requests in the transfer ordinance. The proposed FY26 spring midyear transfer ordinance on the operating side is for 337 million; 233 million of which is in the General Fund, and it's mostly for three items, 91 million for the federal funding reserve, 82 million for labor costs related to contracted awards and nonrepresented and exempt employee raises, and 55 million for a transfer to the Transportation Fund for higher-than-anticipated snow response costs. Pivoting to the capital items, both of the bills have the same items in them. The changes are in FY26. They're primarily administrative, including a $15 million federal appropriation request for the Water Department due to unanticipated grants through Pennvest and about $1 million in what are called A Appropriations PICA bond funds for Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, for the Cobbs Creek project. These amendments do not increase the amount of new General Fund obligation borrowing, and as a result do not affect our loan authorization ordinance and don't require the city to incur new debt service. That concludes my testimony and I'd be happy to take any questions from the committee.
Seeing none, one quick question on the Pennvest grants. Is that something that we could possibly still receive or those grants --
Yes, but you can follow up with the Water Department to get more detail on the status of the grants.
All right. Thank you very much. Seeing no other questions, is there any body else here to testify on these bills on the record? (No response.)
Seeing none, we will call the hearing to recess, as we are in the process of looking at amendments to the appropriations bills and we should return at 2:40 p.m. Thank you. (Afternoon recess.)
Good afternoon, everyone. We're resuming our public meeting on the Appropriations Committee for Thursday, April 16, 2026, for Bill 18 Nos. 260213, 260214 and 260215. I note that a quorum is present. To my left, Councilmember Gauthier, Councilmember Lozada. And to my right, Councilmember Thomas. We will now move to recess to Monday, April 20th at 9:30 a.m. Thank you. (Committee on Appropriations adjourned at 4:05 p.m.)
Good morning, everyone. The public hearing and public meeting on the Committee of Appropriations regarding Bill Nos. 260213, 260214 and 260215. A quorum of the committee is present. To my left, Councilmember Lozada, Councilmember Gilmore Richardson, Councilmember Bass. To my right, Councilmember Thomas, Councilmember Gauthier. Since we have a quorum, the hearing is now called to order. Mr. McMonagle, will you please read the titles of the bills.
Bill No. 22 260213, an ordinance to amend Bill 23 No. 250198 (approved June 13, 2025), entitled "An Ordinance To adopt a Capital Program for the six Fiscal Years 2026-2031 inclusive," by revising various appropriation amounts and totals, all under certain terms and conditions. And Bill No. 260214, an ordinance to amend Bill No. 250197 (approved June 13, 2025), entitled "An Ordinance To adopt a Fiscal 2026 Capital Budget," by revising various appropriation amounts and totals, all under certain terms and conditions. And Bill No. 260215, an Ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2026 from: the General Fund, the Water Fund, the Transportation Fund, and the Grants Revenue Fund, all from certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions; to: the General Fund, the Water Fund, the Special Gasoline Tax Fund, the Grants Revenue Fund, the Aviation Fund, and the Transportation Fund, all to certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions.
Thank you. Mr. McMonagle, are there any questions or anyone else here to testify on Bill Nos. 260213, 260214 and 260215? (No response.)
There being no questions from members of the committee and no 15 other witnesses on the list to testify, I'll ask if anyone else is present in this hearing who wishes to offer testimony? (No response.)
Hearing none, we'll now go into our public meeting to consider the actions to be taken on Bill Nos. 260213, 260214 and 260215. We have a quorum for the meeting. To my left, Councilmember Lozada, Councilmember Gilmore Richardson, Councilmember Bass. To my right, Councilmember Thomas and Councilmember Gauthier. I now recognize the presence of a quorum. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Gilmore Richardson for a motion on Bill No. -- amendment to Bill No. 260215.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 16 260213 be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation -- oh, wait, you want to do the amendment first?
Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the amendment to Bill No. 260215 be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit first reading of this bill at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
For the record, Madam Gilmore Richardson, I recognize you for a motion on Bill No. 260213.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 18 260213 be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit first reading of this bill at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
Chair notes for the record that Councilmember Thomas seconds the motion. It has been moved and properly seconded that Bill No. 7 260213 be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation and further move the rules of Council be suspended as to permit first reading of this bill 12 at the next session of Council. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. And Bill No. 260213 will be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation with the suspension of the rules for consideration of this bill at the next session of Council. Chair now recognizes Councilmember Gilmore Richardson for a motion on Bill No. 260214.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 10 260214 be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit first reading of this bill at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded by Councilmember Thomas that Bill No. 260214 be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended as to admit the first reading of this bill at the next session of Council. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. And Bill No. 260214 will be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation with the suspension of the rules to permit the consideration of this bill at the next session of Council. Chair now recognizes Councilmember Gilmore Richardson for a motion on Bill No. 260215.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the amendment to Bill No. 260215 be adopted. A copy of the amendment has been circulated to all members of the committee. (Duly seconded.)
Chair notes Councilmember Gauthier seconds the motion. It has been moved and properly seconded that the amendment to Bill No. 260215 be adopted. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the amendment to Bill No. 260215 has been amended. Chair now recognizes Councilmember Gilmore Richardson for a motion on Bill No. 260215 as amended.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 5 260215 as amended be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit first reading of this bill at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
Chair notes seconded by Councilmember Thomas. It has been moved and properly seconded that Bill No. 260215 as amended be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the first reading of this bill at the next session of Council. All those in favor of this motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and Bill No. 260215 as amended will be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation with the suspension of the rules to make the consideration of this bill at the next session of Council. That will recess our public meeting, thank you, and conclude the business for our Committee on Appropriations today. And now, we'll move into the Committee of the Whole. Have a good day. (Committee on Appropriations concluded at 9:50 a.m.) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I, hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence noted are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me in the foregoing matter, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. ________________________________ TANEHA CARROLL