Philadelphia's city residents are gearing up to have their say on the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget, with a series of town hall meetings announced by Council President Kenyatta Johnson. Citizens will have the opportunity to engage directly with council members at various locations throughout the city to discuss the 6.29 billion dollar budget put forward by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker earlier this March.
The town hall events are scheduled to kick off on April 10th and will be hosted by Councilmember Mark Squilla at the South Philadelphia High School — running from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., according to details released by the Philadelphia City Council. Further discussions, led by other district council members, including Cindy Bass and Anthony Phillips, Jeffery Young, Jr., and Jamie Gauthier, are slated through April 29th, ensuring representation from neighborhoods across Philadelphia's tapestry is heard.
Johnson emphasized the Council's commitment to an equitable budget process, stating, "The overwhelming majority of Philadelphians cannot come down to City Hall to testify about the budget and that is why Councilmembers are coming to neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia." He further added, "Hearing directly from the residents that live in neighborhoods that all 17 Councilmembers represent will play an important role in helping Councilmembers shape the final version of the FY’25 budget," as mentioned by the Philadelphia City Council.
The town halls will commence with a financial overview from the City Council’s CFO, after which, members of the community will be able to voice their wants and concerns for the next fiscal year's budget, Council starts on March 26 holding a series of in-person public hearings at Philadelphia City Council Chambers on the proposed operating and capital budget these hearings are to wrap up by May 1. All intended speakers for the additional budget hearings within City Hall must sign up by calling or emailing the provided contact details before 3 p.m. on the day preceding the session they wish to address, and in-person registration on the day is also an option.
For those who cannot attend in person, the budget hearings at Council Chambers can be watched live on local cable TV channels or online, ensuring transparent access to public sessions. With the final approval deadline looming on June 30, Philadelphians are encouraged to participate actively in shaping their city's fiscal future. All related documents and updates can be found at the City Council's FY2025 Budget Center.
