WHEREAS, Philadelphia is a World Heritage City and the birthplace of American democracy, with a proud history of civic innovation and a growing global identity; and
WHEREAS, In 2026 Philadelphia will stand on the international stage as host of the United States Semi-Quincentennial, a global commemoration of 250 years of democracy; multiple FIFA World Cup matches; and the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, events that together will place Philadelphia at the center of worldwide attention; and
WHEREAS, Cities that are admired across the globe-such as Porto Alegre, Brazil, where participatory budgeting redirected billions of dollars to community priorities, and Paris, France, where residents have proposed and voted on hundreds of millions of euros in projects that revitalize neighborhoods-have shown that equitable budgeting processes strengthen both local trust and international reputation; and
WHEREAS, Innovative approaches in Boston, New York, Chicago, Helsinki, Finland, and Seoul have demonstrated that equitable public budgeting not only uplifts residents but also strengthens public health systems, stimulates local economies, supports small businesses, and fosters entrepreneurship, thereby making these cities more attractive to international partners and visitors alike; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia already holds a strong partner in community budget engagement with the Philadelphia’s People’s Budget Office, a project within Mural Arts Philadelphia, which provides a model of how education, transparency, and community collaboration can reimagine public finance in ways that align budgets with human needs and shared priorities; and
WHEREAS, Lessons from global budgeting practices reinforce the idea that when residents are meaningfully engaged in shaping fiscal priorities, outcomes extend beyond fairer distribution of resources to include increased civic participation, the development of new community leaders, stronger cultural vitality, healthier neighborhoods, thriving small businesses, and expanded tourism; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia’s continued emergence as a global city depends not only on the world-class events it hosts, but also on the ways it demonstrates leadership in equity, creativity, public stewardship, inclusion, and innovation at home-qualities that the world increasingly associates with attractive and competitive global cities; and
WHEREAS, By exploring globally equitable public budgeting practices, Philadelphia has an opportunity to affirm its position as a leader among global cities, to uplift residents across all neighborhoods, and to attract international recognition as a place where democracy, innovative public investment, and shared prosperity thrive together; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby authorizes the Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy to hold hearings exploring globally equitable public budgeting practices as a hallmark of Philadelphia’s emergence as a leading global city.
End