The Philadelphia City Council reached an agreement with Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration on a tentative $6.8 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026, the mayor announced on Thursday, June 12.

The preliminary budget includes targeted investments in public safety, cleanliness and green spaces, economic opportunity, education, and essential support services.

Now, the FY26 Proposed Budget, titled the “One Philly 2.0 Budget,” builds on these investments, with $3.77 billion in new allocations aimed at making Philadelphia the safest, cleanest, and greenest large city in the country with access to economic opportunity for all.

“Every dollar is necessary to complete this vision,” said Mayor Parker. “I want to thank Council President Kenyatta Johnson and all Council members for their collaboration on this budget for the people of Philadelphia.”

Key Highlights of the Budget Proposal:

Public Safety

$25 million: Violence prevention, managed by the Office of Public Safety, directed to community partners and grassroots organizations.

$18 million: Renovation of the Fire Academy, enabling the city to train and onboard more firefighters.

Cleanliness and Green Spaces

$4.2 million: Installation of planters along commercial corridors.

$350 million: Street paving and additional infrastructure improvements.

Housing
H.O.M.E. Initiative: Construction, preservation, and restoration of 30,000 housing units citywide.

$2.3 billion: Operational investments through FY2030, including debt service on $800 million to support the H.O.M.E. (Housing Opportunities Made Easy) initiative.

Community Reactions

Mercy Mosquera, owner of Mixtos and Tierra Colombiana, said:
“These projects are good and benefit businesses like ours that have faced tough times in recent years due to the economic downturn caused by crime and insecurity. I urge for transparency in the process and for proper use of these funds with oversight or audits to ensure the budget goes where it’s truly needed.”

Samuel Santos, from Adelante Juntos and a mentor to a DACA youth, added:
“Based on past experiences, things usually stay the same, and the money never reaches its intended destination. But I prefer to stay hopeful and believe that this time, the funds will be properly invested in programs and organizations focused on housing, education, and health without getting lost in administrative costs.”

City Council President Kenyatta Johnson commented after the budget’s approval:
“We focused on delivering quality services to the communities we truly represent, and that’s why my main goal is to ensure we work collaboratively with the administration on the H.O.M.E. program. To me, that’s a major achievement.”

Johnson confirmed the agreement and noted that the final vote will take place on June 12.
To learn more about where your tax dollars come from and how they’re spent, visit: https://phlcouncil.com