In Historic Budget Vote, DC Council Makes Transformative Investments But Misses Important Opportunities for Equity
The DC Council cast its first, and arguably most important, vote to advance the fiscal year (FY) 2022 budget last week. The Council budget leverages over $3 billion in temporary federal recovery funds and maintains the Mayor’s strong investments in […]
A Modest Tax Increase Won’t Drive Out High-Income Residents or Small Businesses
We’re in the final stretch of the DC budget process, when the DC Council will have the opportunity to make large strides towards an anti-racist, equitable recovery. Councilmembers are weighing choices that have the potential to usher in bold, transformative […]
Work to Advance Racial Equity in the Budget Is Incomplete
While the Council votes twice on the DC budget, we know that the first vote is the most consequential moment for Councilmembers to improve the lives of Black and brown, and immigrant communities, whose economic, social, and cultural contributions are the heart […]
The Latest Plan for Increased Child Care Educator Pay Offers Too Little, Too Late
Under the current version of the DC budget proposal for FY 2022-2025, early educators participating in the District’s child care subsidy program would not see compensation increases until fiscal year (FY) 2023.
DC Budget Markups: Council Boosts Funding for Some Services but Substantial Shortcomings Remain
Last week, DC Council committees voted on changes—or “mark-ups”—to the Mayor’s proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 and supplemental FY 2021 budgets. While the mark-ups resulted in some funding increases for vital education, housing, and other programs, […]
Committee Leaves DC Police Budget Largely Untouched But Advances Police-Free Schools
During last week’s budget mark-up session, the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety bolstered violence interruption programs and took steps toward removing police from schools; however, they missed an opportunity to divest significantly from policing.
“Tax Flight” is a Myth; DC Should Raise Taxes on the Wealthy for a Just Recovery
Some opponents to raising taxes on DC’s wealthiest residents or profitable businesses claim that it could cause those residents or businesses to move to neighboring states. However, these claims don’t stand up to empirical scrutiny.
Affordable Housing Investments and Transparency Should Be Council Priorities During Committee Markups
The Mayor’s proposed $400 million for the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF) in fiscal years 2021 and 2022 is historic and, if targeted as statutorily required, would go a long way in helping the District alleviate its affordable housing crisis.
DCFPI’s Budget Testimony Round-Up
DCFPI staff have delivered testimony at eleven budget hearings since the Mayor proposed her budget on May 27th. In these testimonies, we reminded lawmakers of the unprecedented opportunity to leverage American Rescue Plan dollars and raise local revenue for […]
Failure to Build a High-Quality Child Care System is a Major Misstep in the Mayor’s Budget
Mayor Bowser missed an unprecedented opportunity to combine federal and local funding to make bold, transformative investments that would strengthen the District’s early childhood system and ensure a just recovery for all children, families, and early […]
