Testimony of Alyssa Noth on the Expanding Equitable Access to Great Schools Act of 2020
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Yesterday, DC Council approved an $8.6 billion local budget. Although we’re in the middle of a global pandemic and recession that is deepening entrenched economic and racial inequities, it fails to adequately rise to what the times require.
DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson’s reckless move to cut $4 million from mental health services during a public health and economic crisis is wildly inappropriate.
DC Council’s budget has significant shortcomings even with modest revenue increases, largely because Council failed to put forward a truly bold revenue strategy in the face of a $1.5 billion revenue shortfall.
On Tuesday, The DC Council cast the first of two votes on their fiscal year (FY) 2021 budget, which moves the District’s fiscal policy and investments in the right direction.
“The Council’s budget moves in the right direction: it raises over $61 million—including $26 million from amendments—to boost funding for vital programs and services, but it still falls short of what these unprecedented times require.”