Forecast Budget Deep Dive
The audit compared Philadelphia FY2023 adopted budget, estimated budget, and actual spend, then separated the technical baseline from practical operating decisions. This is a useful pattern for budget variance analysis.
| View | Total spend | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Adopted budget | $12.41B | Legal limit and target |
| Estimated budget | $6.06B | Formal forecast update |
| Actual spend | $5.92B | Year-end reality |
Actual spending was approximately 47% of the adopted budget. Mental Health & Substance Use Services declined 98% from adopted to actual, while Police was 2.4% above adopted.