 |
Coronavirus Update: FY21 Budget Released
Dear Neighbors,
Today Mayor Bowser released her Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Proposed Budget to the Council and the public. Upon a cursory glance, this seems to be a sensible and well crafted budget. The District will continue its commitments to education, housing, and social services, and will even be able to provide increases in certain areas like the 3% increase in the per pupil funding formula for our schools. To account for the significant multi-year revenue shortfalls caused by the coronavirus, this year's budget relies on refinancing and the deployment of the District's healthy reserve funds. In fact, our coronavirus response and ability to account for an over 770+ million funding gap is due to years of careful management of our local budgets and reserve funds. If anything, the District's financial preparedness and our being better situated for recovery than many other states underscores the wisdom of building and preserving our reserve funds for such unforeseen adverse circumstances (even amid the temptation to spend those funds for other pressing needs).
Of course, in its entirety the budget is a large and dense document, and the Council must still delve into its full details. Among strong benefits in the draft budget, there are worrying aspects as well, such as significant cuts to the Department on Energy & the Environment. And I'd like to note that perhaps the largest development for Ward 3 is the inclusion of $56 million for a new 'Foxhall Elementary School' at the Old Hardy School. Many of the budget's details will require a deeper look at the tables and documents provided to the Council, and much of that work will begin tomorrow when the Mayor formally presents her draft budget at a Council hearing. Afterward, we will begin our analysis and Council budget hearings.
Below this letter, I have included links to the online budget documents and instructions for those who wish to submit testimony to the Committee on Transportation & the Environment (which I chair). To watch the Council's hearing and FY21 Budget review with Mayor Bowser tomorrow, please watch live at noon on Channel 13 or online.
Regards,
Mary
|
Budget Process for the Committee on Transportation & the Environment |
Submit Testimony Early! - Due to the unusual circumstances surrounding this year’s budget, the Committee on Transportation & the Environment will accept public testimony for all agencies under its jurisdiction in written and voicemail form. The public may submit written testimony to the Committee is two ways:
-
By e-mailing written testimony to the Committee Clerk, Aukima Benjamin, at [email protected]
-
By leaving voicemail testimony (3 minute limit) for the Committee by calling (202) 350‐1344
Your voicemail testimony will be transcribed, so please: be sure to speak slowly and clearly, note the agency that you submitting testimony for, and note your full name and the organization you represent (if any).
Testimony will be accepted through the close of the hearing record, which will be one week after the hearing date; however, the Committee encourages the public to submit testimony at least 24-hours in advance of the hearing. Testimony submitted in advance will be shared with members of the Committee and Agency staff prior to the hearing date and will help inform the discussion at the hearing.
|
Online Budget Resources - The District's FY21 Draft Budget documents are available online for residents and the public (linked below). To more easily and quickly access the information that you're interested in, try searching documents by key words and phrases (for example, 'library' or 'recycling').
Executive Summary & Agency Chapters - The Executive Summary is a 300+ page document detailing the financial plan and overarching financial allocations to agencies, programs, and local infrastructure that the Mayor would like to highlight. This document also includes a guide on how to read/interpret budget documents: Executive Summary.
Agency Clusters - Links on this site will provide residents with access to each group of District agencies by appropriation title – that is, by functional agency cluster by which Congress appropriates funds for the District. Selecting an appropriation title will provide the list of agencies in that title: Fiscal Year 2021 Approved Operating Budget Chapters, Operating Appendix Tables, and Capital Budgets by Agency.
The Capital Improvements Plan - The FY21 Draft Budget outlines $1.660 billion in capital expenditures. This includes building renovations and modernizations, streetscape and beautification efforts, and major infrastructure projects across the District: FY 2021 to FY 2026 Capital Improvements Plan.
|
Watch Mayor Bowser's 5/18 Budget Press Conference |
Press Conference Presentation
PowerPoint Presentation - To view Mayor Bowser's presentation from today's press conference, please see: FY21 Budget Presentation to the Council. The presentation includes the financing sources in this year's budget and key investments in education, human services, and affordable housing.
Below is a slide highlight on the use of reserve funds:
|
Updated Council Budget Schedule
New Schedule - The delay of the release of the FY21 Draft Budget resulted in the rescheduling of a number of Council committee budget hearings. For the new schedule, please see: Council Budget Hearing Calendar.
Other important budget dates -
-
May 19: Committee of the Whole virtual hearing with Mayor Bowser
-
May 20 - June 16: Committee budget hearings
-
June 17 - 18: Committee of the Whole Public Hearing on the Budget
-
June 23 - June 25: Committee Mark-Ups
-
June 29: Budget Work Session
-
July 7: Council Vote on the FY21 Local Budget Act & FY21 Budget Support Act
-
July 21: Council Vote on the FY21 Local Budget Act, FY21 Federal Portion Budget Request Act, & FY21 Revised Local Budget Emergency Adjustment Act
-
July 28: Council Vote on the FY21 Budget Support Act
|
Our Office is Open!
Connect with our staff - While Councilmember Cheh's physical office is closed during the public health emergency, she and her staff are teleworking and will remain accessible for residents.
You may continue to email the office directly or reach us via phone through our main line at (202) 724-8062 with legislative ideas, budget requests, and constituent services requests.
|
|
|
|
|
|
