Key takeaways
- Pennsylvania state government spent $119.0 billion in fiscal 2024, the 6th most of any state.
- Statewide purchasing runs through the Department of General Services, Bureau of Procurement, and vendors register and find bids in PA Supplier Portal; eMarketplace.
- The fiscal year starts July 1; the governor's FY2028 budget proposal usually comes in February; March in a governor's first term.
- The 2027 legislative session convenes Jan. 5 and is scheduled to adjourn Dec. 31.
Pennsylvania government at a glance
| Fact | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| State spending, FY 2024 | $119.0 billion (6th of 50) |
| Fiscal year starts | July 1 |
| Next budget | FY2028 · proposal usually in February; March in a governor's first term |
| 2027 legislative session | Jan. 5 to Dec. 31 (361 days) |
| Central procurement office | Department of General Services, Bureau of Procurement |
| Bid and vendor portal | PA Supplier Portal; eMarketplace |
| State CIO | Bry Pardoe, Deputy Secretary and CIO |
| Local governments | 4,851 total, including 1,712 special districts and 514 school districts |
| Public power and co-op utilities | 36 public power utilities and 13 electric co-ops |
| State prison population | 38,860 (end of 2023) |
How Pennsylvania buys
- Central purchasing. The Department of General Services, Bureau of Procurement handles statewide contracts and purchasing rules for state agencies.
- Where bids are posted. PA Supplier Portal; eMarketplace is where vendors register and find state solicitations.
- Registering as a vendor. Our Pennsylvania vendor registration guide walks through the steps, fees and documents.
- Agencies and local buyers. Many agencies, universities, cities, counties and school districts buy on their own or through cooperative contracts; see our cooperative purchasing guide.
Purchase thresholds
| Tier | Rule |
|---|---|
| Little or no competition | Up to $10,000 |
| Informal quotes | None |
| Formal solicitation | Over $10,000 (agencies handle up to $100,000 for supplies and $250,000 for services; DGS above) |
Source: DGS Procurement Handbook, Pt. I Ch. 7. Agency and local thresholds can differ; see our state procurement thresholds guide.
Budget and legislative calendar
- Fiscal year. Pennsylvania's fiscal year starts July 1. The next budget covers FY2028.
- Governor's proposal. Usually released in February; March in a governor's first term. Status as of Nov. 8, 2026: not yet released. Track it in our governor budget proposals tracker.
- 2027 session. Convenes Jan. 5 and is scheduled to adjourn Dec. 31. Meets throughout the year. See the 2027 legislative session calendar.
Technology and AI
- State CIO. Bry Pardoe, Deputy Secretary and CIO, leads the Office of Administration. See the full state CIO directory.
- AI policy. Our tracker counts 1 executive order, no laws and 3 agency policies on government AI use. See the state AI policy tracker.
- How IT buying works. See how state agencies buy technology.
Largest public buyers in Pennsylvania
The biggest Pennsylvania entities on our national rankings. Each one runs its own budget and, in most cases, its own purchasing.
| Buyer | Type | Size | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | City | 1,574,281 residents (2025) | 6 of 100 largest cities |
| Pittsburgh | City | 307,632 residents (2025) | 68 of 100 largest cities |
| Philadelphia County | County | 1,574,281 residents (2025) | 25 of 100 largest counties |
| Allegheny County | County | 1,225,035 residents (2025) | 39 of 100 largest counties |
| Montgomery County | County | 877,643 residents (2025) | 71 of 100 largest counties |
| Philadelphia City | School district | 118,053 students (fall 2021) | 20 of 100 largest districts |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | Public university | 50,737 students (fall 2024) | 25 of 40 largest |
| Southeastern Pennsylvania Transp. Auth. | Transit agency | 197,264,900 trips (2023) | 7 of 50 largest |
| Pittsburgh Regional Transit | Transit agency | 37,908,500 trips (2023) | 26 of 50 largest |
| Philadelphia International | Airport | 14,779,849 passengers boarded (2025) | 21 of 100 busiest |
| Pittsburgh International | Airport | 4,792,035 passengers boarded (2025) | 47 of 100 busiest |
| Philadelphia Water Department | Water utility | 1,600,000 people served | 9 of 208 largest |
| Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority | Water utility | 520,000 people served | 62 of 208 largest |
| Philadelphia (PA) Police | Police department | 6,031 sworn officers (2016) | 4 of 50 largest |
| Pittsburgh (PA) Police | Police department | 892 sworn officers (2016) | 44 of 50 largest |
| PhilaPort | Port | 889,268 TEUs (2025) | 14 of 16 largest |
| Pennsylvania Department of Human Services | State agency | $67.2B budget | 3 of 16 largest |
Sources: KSG rankings of the largest cities, counties, school districts, public universities, transit agencies, airports, water utilities, public power utilities, police departments and other lists. Figures are from each list's source year.
Local government and utilities
- 4,851 local governments. That includes 1,712 special districts and 514 school districts. See special districts by state.
- Utilities. 36 public power utilities and 13 electric cooperatives serve 312,299 customers, 7% of the state. See Pennsylvania utilities.
- Budget cycles. Cities, counties and school districts set their own fiscal years; see city and county budget calendars.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group's SDRs book meetings with public agencies across Federal, SLED, K-12 & Higher Ed, Healthcare, Tribal, Special Districts and Utilities. We research Pennsylvania buyers, time outreach to state and local budget cycles and get you in front of the people who own the problem you solve. See how our state and local sales development works.
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