The already dire conditions for Black and brown residents and those with low incomes are likely to worsen this year and beyond as the combined harm of federal layoffs on DC’s economy and cuts to vital safety net programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Medicaid take effect.
Tazra Mitchell
(she/her)
Chief Policy and Strategy Officer
Tazra works with the Executive Director to develop and execute DCFPI’s strategic vision and goals, policy and legislative strategies, and policies and practices for a healthy, thriving team. She leads the policy team and provides strategic direction for policy and research, working closely with the senior leadership team to enhance cross-team and cross-functional collaboration for improved policy impact and team cohesion. Prior to joining DCFPI, Tazra was at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the North Carolina Budget & Tax Center. She also had roles in the North Carolina government, working on fiscal policy. Tazra holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from North Carolina State University and a master’s from the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University.
Recent posts by Tazra Mitchell
Implementation of Federal Cuts to SNAP is Critical to Preventing Harm to DC Residents
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will have negative effects on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) but there are actions that the DC Council and Department of Human Services (DHS) can take to reduce this harm.
DC Revenue Higher than Expected, But a Recession Still Looms
by Tazra Mitchell and Anne Gunderson
Although DC is not facing a budget shortfall as some expected, the CFO warns that the District is entering a moderate recession this year.
Undocumented Immigrants Make DC’s Tax Base More Resilient
As the Mayor and the federal government escalate attacks on immigrants, DC should not overlook the many ways these residents contribute to the communities they live in and the local economy, including through their tax contributions toward DC’s shared resources.
TANF Benefits Are a Lifeline for DC Families, and Limits and Cuts Will Do Major Harm
Testimony of Tazra Mitchell, Chief Policy and Strategy Officer At the Budget Oversight Hearing on the Department of Human Services DC Council Committee on Human Services
DC Residents Deserve Affordable and Thorough Health Care Coverage
DC has been a national leader in promoting access to health care and health reform innovation, which has contributed to its very low uninsured rate of 2.7 percent, or the 2nd lowest rate in the nation. The mayor’s proposed financial plan will likely increase the uninsurance rate, on net, due to cuts in the Healthcare Alliance program and the Medicaid shift—and the harm is likely to fall disproportionately on Black and brown residents given DC’s deep and persistent income disparities.
Mayor’s Economic Playbook Full of Disproven Ideas that Could Worsen Inequality
Mayor Bowser’s new economic agenda funnels more than $1 billion to the corporate class and doubles down on ineffective strategies while stripping away legal protections for tenants and wages for workers.
Five Misunderstandings About the Congressional Bill to Protect the District’s Budget
Unless the US House takes action, DC will be forced to cut $1 billion from its current budget, in an attack on residents’ fundamental right to self-govern.
Congress Set to Force $1 Billion in Spending Cuts for DC
The US House of Representatives will vote Tuesday on a federal spending bill that could cut $1 billion from DC’s budget halfway into the fiscal year, likely leading to immediate and wide-ranging cuts to public safety, schools, and other critical programs, and layoffs of DC government workers.
DC Expected to Lose $1 Billion in Revenue Through the Financial Plan
Local revenues are expected to decline by more than $1 billion over the next three years compared to previous estimates, largely due to federal layoffs steep enough to throw DC into a mild recession, according to the Chief Financial Officer’s new revenue forecast.
Baby Bonds and DC’s Racial Wealth Gap
Baby Bonds Could Help Close DC’s Outsized Racial Wealth Gap, But Only If DC Implements the Program and Restores Robust Design Features
A Business Activity Tax Would Make DC’s Tax System More Equitable While Raising Revenue
by Tazra Mitchell, Erica Williams and Nick Johnson
By enacting a Business Activity Tax—a new, simple, broad-based value-added tax, DC would make business taxation fairer and more racially equitable while raising significant revenue for the District.
Poverty Reduction Stalled While Racial and Income Inequality Persisted in 2023
Despite a growing economy, DC failed to reduce poverty overall and for children and Black residents in 2023, according to new data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS).
How Wealthy Households Use a “Buy, Borrow, Die” Strategy to Avoid Taxes on Their Growing Fortunes
Capital gains are the profits generated from wealth such as stocks and real estate. Wealthy households can use the three-step “buy, borrow, die” strategy to get massive capital gains tax advantages.
Council Must Choose to Equitably Raise Revenue Over Balancing the Budget on the Backs of Black and Brown Residents
Chairperson McDuffie and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Tazra Mitchell, and I am the Chief Policy and Strategy Officer at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute. DCFPI is a nonprofit organization that shapes racially-just tax,...
CFO Overreach on Reserves Policy May Hurt Black and Brown Women the Most
Every dollar that DC must use to replenish the reserve earlier than what is legally required is one lawmakers don’t have to help residents afford rent and put food on the table.
District Must Make Changes to EITC Payments; Prioritize Funding for Baby Bonds
Chairperson McDuffie and members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony. My name is Tazra Mitchell, and I am the Chief Policy and Strategy Officer at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI). DCFPI is a nonprofit organization that...
Taxing Capital Gains More Robustly Can Help Reduce DC’s Racial Wealth Gap
The federal and DC governments tax income from wealth more favorably than income from work. This preferential treatment means we under tax the most well-off, tax their wealth less often, and, in some cases, allow them to accumulate fortunes and pass vast sums of wealth to heirs tax-free.
Improvements Needed for the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund
Chairperson Mendelson, members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Tazra Mitchell, and I am Chief Policy and Strategy Officer at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI) and an Executive Committee member of the Under 3 DC Coalition...
DC Council Must Make Changes to Mayor’s Budget Proposal to Promote Equity in DC’s Early Learning System
Chairperson Mendelson, members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Tazra Mitchell, and I am Chief Policy and Strategy Officer at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI) and an Executive Committee member of the Under 3 DC Coalition...