A financial oversight panel for Harrisburg is urging Mayor Wanda Williams to restore funding for several city positions that City Council defunded earlier this week.
In a letter on Thursday, the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) expressed concern over council’s removing salaries from top city employees as it passed the city’s budget for 2026.
In line with its oversight role, the state-appointed ICA must review and make recommendations to the mayor about Harrisburg’s budgetary and fiscal affairs.
“We do not opine on the matters causing this disagreement between the administrative and legislative branches, but we strongly request that a means be found to productively address the matter,” states the three-page letter signed by ICA Chair Doug Hill, “and one which does not reflect badly on the City’s commitment to responsible budgeting, sound administration of City government, and its economic development progress.”
Council members on Monday moved to eliminate salaries for the city’s interim business administrator, project director for business administration and the police bureau’s director of community engagement and relations. They also opted to cease contributions to the interim director of building and housing development’s salary, a position also partly funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The letter emphasized that council’s defunding of the business administrator role is illegal because it is “a statutorily-required position,” according to the City Charter.
It also lamented the elimination of funds for the business administration and building and housing development directors roles, which work on city economic development matters, at a critical time for the city, as Harrisburg continues to struggle with an influx of business closings and vacant storefronts.
The authority also urged the mayor to restore funding to the roles because, without it, no new people would be able to be hired.
“[F]unding must be restored for 2026 for these positions, in part to meet statutory requirements and in part to affirm the City’s commitment to sound administration, sound financial management, and sound planning for economic revitalization and growth,” the letter said.
Council members decided to defund the position of business administrator, held by Sam Sulkosky, and the city’s contribution to the position of director of building and housing, held by Gloria Martin-Roberts, mainly because they had been serving in interim positions without council approval.
Council removed funding for the project director for business administration, explaining that they were unhappy with the lack of work being done, specifically around an economic development plan for the city. When it came to the police position, council members said they believed the position was redundant.
Williams has until Dec. 26 to return a signed budget to council or to veto the budget or specific line items.
“She [the mayor] will be waiting until then to decide,” City Communications Director Mischelle Moyer told TheBurg on Thursday.
If vetoes are exercised, council would likely return for a session on Dec. 30 or 31 to reconsider the budget.
To learn more about the ICA, visit its website.
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