Title
Authorizing the Committee on Education to conduct hearings regarding the financial state of the Philadelphia Parking Authority and the allocation of Parking Authority funds to the School District of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale's December 2017 audit report of the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) revealed a myriad of institutional problems, including inappropriate management protocols, the manipulation of records, a closed hiring process, and a culture of sexual harassment; and
WHEREAS, The Auditor General's report also highlighted rampant financial mismanagement, including over $1.17 million of incorrect, questionable, or excessive expenses that were charged to the PPA's on-street division. Additionally, total expenses of the on-street division have increased by $15 million over the past four years; and
WHEREAS, There has recently been a rapid growth in overall PPA expenses, with payroll costs for administrative support rising 50 percent from 2013 to 2016; and
WHEREAS, According to Parking Authority documentation obtained via a Right to Know request made in 2017, the number of full time PPA employees grew by 10.5 percent between 2015 and 2016, while the annual salaries of full-time employees grew by 12 percent and the number of part-time employees grew by 49 percent; and
WHEREAS, Under Act 22, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was tasked with managing the PPA in an effort to divert up to an alleged $45 million in excess revenue to the School District of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, In 2014, while testifying in City Council about a parking fee increase, the PPA indicated that the School District of Philadelphia would receive an extra $7.5 million in 2015 if meter rates were increased. However, despite City Council acquiescing and raising meter fees which were alleged to deliver at least $18 million to the School District, PPA funding to the School District actually dropped in the year...
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