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The Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority for Harrisburg Accepts Five-Year Financial Plan for 2025

September 9, 2024

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – At its meeting on August 28, 2024, the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority for Harrisburg (the Authority) approved the City of Harrisburg’s Five-Year Financial Plan (the Plan) for 2025.  

The Plan was prepared and submitted in a timely manner by Mayor Wanda R.D. Williams.

The approved Plan includes projected revenues and expenditures for five fiscal years, including projected capital expenditures, for the City’s General Fund and other operating funds. The approved Plan projects balanced budgets based upon reasonable and appropriate assumptions, which are described in the Plan.

The Plan incorporates several major initiatives in financial management and other categories, including improvements to the FNB Baseball Field on City Island, development of a comprehensive economic development plan, improved fee collection on trash billings, and improvements to software systems for financial accounting.

In correspondence transmitted by Board Chair Douglas Hill, the Authority laid out items of focus going forward including:

  • A recommendation that the City focus on stabilizing the trend in declining revenue and avoid fund balance depletion as a priority for the City budgets;
  • A recommendation that the City redouble the effort to shore up the financial stability of the Neighborhood Services Fund, with a focus on past due receivables as well as achieving a rate of collection on current receivables above 95% as soon as possible. A continuing commitment to review and adjust fees as necessary for sufficiency to meet expenses and avoid drawing from reserves is acknowledged;
  • The Authority encourages the development of a comprehensive Economic Development Plan. Apart from its importance for the vitality and opportunity it affords the downtown and our neighborhoods, it is an integral tool for the City to build long-term economic growth in the face of future trends the Plan projects in City revenue generally and the property tax in particular.
  • Establishing the Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust Fund; and
  • The City’s anticipated exit from Act 47 status.

Chair Douglas Hill shared that the Authority “applauds the City on beginning its efforts to rebuild the Broad Street Market. Not only is this a landmark asset, it is a symbol of community resilience, and an economic anchor for our community.” Finally, the ICA Board acknowledged that the City is going through a senior staffing transition and thanked former Chief of Staff and Business Administrator Dan Hartman, former Director of Finance Marita Kelley, and long-serving Accounting Manager Bryan McCutcheon for their outstanding work on behalf of the City of Harrisburg.

The full report can be found at the Authority website, www.hbgica.org or by clicking on this direct link: https://hbgica.org/download/1350/