Delaware County Controller

State of the Controller's Office - Statistics for 2022

---

Message from Delaware County Controller Joanne Phillips

As your elected Controller, I am committed to transparency and implementing the best practices and safeguards to protect County tax dollars during my time in office. I will use all resources available to my office to carry out that promise to Delaware County residents.

During my tenure, we have transformed the office to expertly address the issues facing the County, worked as the financial backbone of the County, made information available to the public and County government, saved taxpayers money, and supported the professional development of staff in the office.

Along with my staff, we have implemented creative programs to protect County resources and taxpayers. Our work has included finding funds to be returned to the County Treasury, creating an Unclaimed Property program and a Waste, Fraud and Abuse Hotline, and making the County’s audits and financial reports accessible to the public. Each year I have been in office we produce an annual comprehensive financial report for the County and each year we have received the highest national honor from the Government Finance Officers Association for the U.S and Canada for Excellence in Financial Reporting.

My staff and I take our roles seriously and we are committed to ensuring that taxpayers of Delaware County receive the services they pay for in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

Mission Statement of the Controller's office

The Controller, Joanne Phillips, Esquire, is responsible for overseeing and controlling the expenditure of County Funds, and has the powers and duties granted by the Commonwealth laws applicable to Controller's in counties for the 2nd Class A Controllers, the Home Rule Charter, and by ordinance of County Council.

The Controller’s office has a critical role in serving as the County’s fiscal watchdog. The office is committed to protecting the taxpayers of Delaware County and is responsible for overseeing the County’s payroll, internal audits, retirement, accounts payable, and the accounting system for the County.

The Office of the Controller is headed by an independently elected Controller who is responsible to the electorate of Delaware County for the performance of her duties. The Controller shall appoint at least one Deputy Controller trained or experienced in the field of accounting and such other staff, including a solicitor, as may be required to assist her in the discharge of her duties, subject to budgetary approval of County Council. The Controller’s First Deputy is Jeffrey J. Powers, C.P.A., J.D., and the Solicitor for the Controller's office is Winifred M. Branton, Esq.

Controller's Bio

Joanne Phillips was elected to serve as Delaware County Controller in November 2017 and began her four-year term in January 2018. She was reelected to serve a second four-year term in November 2021.

Ms. Phillips is an experienced attorney who, before retiring from her firm in 2024, represented business clients, cultural institutions, hospitals and universities in real estate development, zoning and land use, eminent domain, and real estate finance. Ms. Phillips also served in government as the Director of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Bureau of Real Estate, in the Department of General Services, where she oversaw a department responsible for a multi-million-dollar portfolio of leased facilities and acquisition and sale of real property. She also served as a Special Assistant to the City of Philadelphia’s Managing Director to work on streamlining business processes and real estate issues.

Ms. Phillips graduated summa sum laude from Widener University's Delaware Law School, where she was the valedictorian of her class and an editor of the law review. She received her B.A. from Ursinus College, with Departmental Honors. She was also a member of the school's nationally-ranked field hockey team.

As Controller, Ms. Phillips serves as the Secretary of the Delaware County Retirement Board, and a member of the County’s Jail Oversight Board. In 2020 she was appointed by County Council to represent Delaware County on the Board of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. As the Controller, she is active in the Pennsylvania County Controller’s Association and a representative to the Pennsylvania State Association of Elected Officials.

A leader in professional organizations throughout her career, highlights include serving as Chair of the Real Property Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association and Chair of the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Counselors of Real Estate (“CRE”). Ms. Phillips is a current member of the Pennsylvania, Delaware County Bar Associations and its deFuria Inn of Court.

Ms. Phillips and her husband have lived in Middletown Township for more than thirty-six years. They raised two children who attended schools in the Rose Tree Media School District. Ms. Phillips was also involved in outdoor and youth activities in her community. She became a licensed soccer coach and coached boys' and girls' intramural and travel teams for more than 15 years. She also served as a director of the Rose Tree Soccer Club.