In January 2018, Rebecca Rhynhart made history in Philadelphia as she was the first woman sworn in as City Controller. With more than a decade of experience in government service, this is Rebecca’s first role in elected office. As she joins the progressive movement across the country, Rebecca is our #WCW due to her dedication and fearlessness.
During the Mayor Nutter Administration, she left the private finance sector on Wall Street to serve as City Treasurer in her hometown. After that, she became Budget Director and has stayed on to serve under Mayor Jim Kenney as Chief Administrative Officer.
Her First Year in Office
As City Controller, Rebecca has promised to “[audit] each city department every year, with a focus not only on rooting out fraud but on modernization and best practices to save millions of dollars to put towards the needs of our city.” One of the operative words is modernization, as Rebecca has been a large supporter of using technology to increase efficiencies. For instance, she is proposing to publish data through digital channels and increase government transparency. In an effort to build public trust in the government, this allows them to see how tax dollars are being spent.
Last year alone, Rebecca uncovered $33 million that were not reconciled by the Treasurer’s Office and Finance Department. In addition, there were $924 million of errors made by staff accountants in the fiscal year 2017. She is calling for urgent action for the Mayor’s office… and not supporting the easy way out. Instead of the Mayor asking for tax increases, she wants to see his team provide a comprehensive plan to rectify past mistakes.
Women’s Rights
Those weren’t the only offices she audited, though. Sparked by the #MeToo movement and existing allegations against city employees, Rebecca reviewed policies and procedures for reporting sexual harassment. What she found: an inconsistent policy that neither prevents nor protects victims.
If you’re wondering how this affects her job as Controller, Rebecca analyzed the financial burden sexual misconduct puts on taxpayers. Of the cases reviewed in the audit, the city had paid out $2.2 million in settlements and litigation costs. Plus, the actual costs may be even higher as the city doesn’t differentiate between types of gender discrimination lawsuits. From this, Mayor Kenney accepted the audit finding and announced policy changes. They included conduct training for city employees and a more streamlined process for reporting abuse.
With an unshakable spirit and an aptitude for bold action, it’s no wonder Rebecca has won awards such as Philadelphia Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. Currently, she is working on analyzing the stability of the city’s Pension Fund and the assessment of property tax value. We are excited to continue watching her fight for the people of Philadelphia throughout her time in office.
For more information, follow Rebecca Rhynhart on social media on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
