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Hello Neighbors:
This week, the Council gave our initial approval to the District’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget. I was proud to support the proposal that reinstates vital programs and generates much-needed revenue to support many of the services that are key to how we live in our city.
We have an obligation as a government to do more than simply reconcile our accounts and produce a balanced budget. We are obligated to take care of our neighbors, to keep our city safe, to enhance our quality of life. To serve people and meet their needs.
When we compare the Council’s budget to the proposal we received from the Mayor earlier this spring, we are in a remarkably better place. The Mayor's proposal shirked responsibility, balancing the budget on the backs of our most vulnerable residents.
We have heard time and again that this is a tough year. But we can, in fact, do hard things. We can, and did, rise to the challenge, meeting a substantial budget gap by finding ways to generate revenue to support essential programs for our residents.
There is more work to be done between now and the final vote, however, and over the next year.
Here are some of the things I am focused on over the next two weeks:
- Rapid Rehousing/Vouchers/ERAP: We've been successful at ending homelessness for thousands of our neighbors through major investments in permanent housing, emergency rental assistance, and rapid rehousing. If this funding pipeline is decreased in the FY25 budget, we will not be able to keep that forward progress.
- Pay Equity: We are still $17 million short of the full amount needed for this essential fund to prevent cuts in salary and benefits for early childhood educators.
- SNAP: We need to make sure seniors can continue to live in our city, and with one of the highest rates of senior hunger in the country, that means we need to increase SNAP benefits.
- Flexible Scheduling: Improving educator wellness and increasing retention rates can help us achieve the stable, secure, and productive school environment all D.C. students deserve.
We have work to do. And there’s also so much good that’s already been done in this budget:
- Public safety: A police budget increase of $70 million fully funds the chief’s request for additional officers. I also made funds available for new mobile police cameras in the 3rd and 4th police districts to contribute to neighborhood safety. And I contributed funds to support positions in the city’s crime lab to help solve cases.
- Home Visiting Reimbursement Amendment Act: I am thrilled to see funding for my legislation that will expand access to evidence-based home visit programs for expectant parents.
- Office of the Ombudsperson for Children: This small office, which I created through legislation in 2021, has a significant impact on the lives of children, especially those simultaneously involved in foster care and the juvenile justice system.
Balancing a $21 billion budget requires making cuts in one place to add in another and considering all revenue sources. I strongly support the Chairman’s property tax increase on homes with assessed values over $2.5 million, in a way that does not negatively impact multifamily properties. I was proud to be part of this change and thank the Chairman for working with me and other councilmembers to make this happen.
I have long believed that the District’s wealthiest residents should be asked to do the most for those in need and an increased tax on the highest value homes is much needed. The District’s property taxes are currently the lowest in the region by a wide margin – that will remain true even with this proposal.
For the first time, we are adding progressivity to the property tax, which currently disproportionally burdens lower-income residents.
This budget’s tax changes are necessary and good and put us on the right path. What should come next is fleshing out a fuller vision of revising the tax code – led by the commission we appointed to do so.
As I noted in my remarks at the budget hearing this week, I look forward to the work ahead between now and the final vote as we produce a budget that supports the rights, health, and wellbeing of residents, protects vulnerable people, including children, enhances livelihoods, and keeps the District a clean, safe, and livable city.
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