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City Council Seeks Voter Approval to Gain Line-Item Budget Control Over Major City Spending Decisions

Official:Providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a Resolution approved by Council proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for the line item appropriation of certain amounts in the annual operating budget ordinance, and to require the expenditure or encumbrance of amounts so appropriated, and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia; all under certain terms and conditions.

Sponsor: Councilmember Squilla

Introduced: September 27, 2012

: Committee on Law and Government

finance government

No one voted on this bill

This bill was introduced in the 2012–2015 Council term and when that term ran out. The public record shows no committee vote and no floor vote at any stage, so no member of Council ever went on record for or against it.

That is not unusual here. Of the 8,465 bills introduced between 2000 and 2025, 1,624 lapsed without a single recorded vote. Ninety percent of bills that became law carry a roll call. Three percent of lapsed bills do. How this works.

Plain-Language Summary

This bill asks voters if City Council should be able to control up to 10% of the city's annual budget by specifying line-item appropriations.

What This Bill Does

AI-written. Every figure is checked against the bill text.

Submits a proposal to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia to amend the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for line-item appropriation of certain amounts in the annual operating budget ordinance.
Proposes that up to 10% of the City's annual operating budget be subject to specific, line-item control by City Council.
Requires City officials and agencies to fully expend funds budgeted in this manner, if possible.
Directs the Clerk of Council to certify the amendment to the Board of Elections for placement on the ballot at the election to be held on May 21, 2013.