ABOUT THE OFFICE – City Controller
The City Controller is a popularly-elected City official who serves four-year terms on an alternate cycle from Mayor and Council elections and is not subject to term limits. The City Controller is the Chief Auditor of the City of Philadelphia and the School District, is independent of the Mayor and City Council and is charged with auditing their operations as well.
Under the Home Rule Charter, City Council ordinances and state legislation, the City Controller has a number of responsibilities in addition to auditing municipal government including, but not limited to:
- Serving on the Board of Pensions and Retirement, which oversees the management of investments and the payment of benefits.
- Serving on the Philadelphia Gas Commission, which approves the Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) operating budget and short-term financing.
- Serving as a member of the Sinking Fund Commission, which oversees investment of revenues for payment of bond principal and interest.
- Serving as a member of the Bond Committee, which approves bond issues, e.g. debt capacity, capital nature and useful life of related projects.
- Serving as auditor of the Philadelphia School District.
- Evaluating the City’s Five Year Plan.
- Investigating accusations of mismanagement and fraud by City agencies, employees and/or contractors.