DCFPI, along with the Fair Budget Coalition, will be sponoring a call-in day on Thursday, May 13, to urge the DC Council to include revenue increases in next year’s budget. We need your help to preserve money for child-care, job training, affordable housing and other important programs. Make your voice heard!
Here’s some helpful information on the event:
The DC Council will vote on the Fiscal Year 2011 budget in just two weeks. Council members need to hear from YOU and YOUR ORGANIZATION that YOU SUPPORT WAYS TO ADD REVENUE to next year’s budget to preserve critical investments in our city and its future.
We need you to CALL AND EMAIL the DC Council on THURSDAY, MAY 13, to impact the upcoming budget vote.
WHY DO WE NEED TO ADD REVENUE?
As a result of the Great Recession, DC’s expected revenues have fallen by more than $1 billion. This has resulted in significant cuts in affordable housing, workforce development, and child care at the very same time that DC residents struggle with record unemployment. The proposed budget from Mayor Fenty makes painful reductions to child care, job training and help for our most vulnerable residents, as well as hits environmental programs, public safety, and public works.
A cuts-only approach will not move us toward recovery. We need a balanced approach that includes revenues to invest in our city and get us back to work and prosperity.
WHY DO YOU NEED TO CALL ON THURSDAY?
Some council members ‘ but not all ‘ have expressed support for parts of a revenue package supported by the Fair Budget Coalition. We need you to contact the DC Council to ensure we have enough support for a budget passed with progressive revenue increases. These include proposals to:
- increase the income tax for the wealthiest. Right now, DC residents making $40,000 a year and those who make $1 million pay the same income tax rate. Increasing the rate on those making more than $200,000 a year would raise $40 million and impact less than 5 percent of households.
- end DC’s tax exemption for interest paid on out-of-state bonds. Only DC and Indiana provide income tax breaks for residents that invest in other states’ infrastructure. Eliminating this exemption would raise $17 million and give District residents an incentive to invest in DC’s roads and bridges.
- modernize the sales tax to include more services. DC’s sales tax was created at a time when people spent more on goods than services. Today it’s the other way around. Adding more services to DC’s general sales tax ‘ like pet grooming, health club memberships, and theater tickets ‘ would raise more than $14 million.
More information on who to call and what to say tomorrow!
