PHILADELPHIA  –  Mayor Cherelle L. Parker today issued the following statement regarding City Council’s preliminary approval of Philadelphia’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget: 

«Today, City Council gave preliminary approval to the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget. 

“This budget includes important investments in affordability, economic mobility, housing, education, workforce development, public safety, and neighborhood quality of life. It advances key priorities of my administration’s Economic GPS agenda, and it moves Philadelphia one step closer to a budget that helps more residents achieve Growth, Prosperity, and Security. 

«Supporting and helping to grow small businesses, increasing the number of schools offering year-round educational enrichment activities through our Extended Day, Extended Year program, putting our H.O.M.E. program dollars to productive uses, extending our Neighborhood Wellness Court, expanding the capacity of our Taking Care of Business commercial corridor cleaning program – all these initiatives and more are including in this FY27 Budget. 

“At the same time, I want to be honest with the people of Philadelphia. 

“While this budget contains meaningful investments, it does not include several proposals my administration put forward to make our city more affordable, generate predictable recurring funding for our schools, help end street homelessness, and improve neighborhood roads and infrastructure. 

“City Council did not approve our proposal to generate a dedicated, recurring source of revenue for the School District of Philadelphia. Our goal was clear: protect 340 school-based positions and continue the progress our children have made. A one-time band-aid is not the same as a long-term recurring commitment.

“Council also did not approve our proposals to help fund our plan to bring more homeless Philadelphians inside, and to address critical road and infrastructure needs. 

“But let me be clear: I am not giving up on any of these priorities, and I am not going away. 

“The people of Philadelphia did not elect me to accept the status quo. They elected me to tackle the challenges that make it harder for families to get ahead and to create pathways to economic opportunity in every neighborhood of our city. 

“That work continues. I look forward to working with City Council. I will never stop fighting for our children and the people of Philadelphia.”