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| D.C. mayor’s budget plan keeps tax cuts intact, alters school improvement funding | D.C. mayor’s budget plan keeps tax cuts intact, alters school improvement funding |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) on Thursday proposed overhauling how the city pays for neighborhood-changing school modernization projects — consolidating funding into fewer but more complete refurbishments — as part of a $13.4 billion spending plan for the upcoming year. | |
| The plan appeared likely to delight communities where new schools could be accelerated and embitter others where promised renovations could be delayed. And it represented the most striking example of how Bowser will try to manage expectations in the coming year with limited new financial resources. | The plan appeared likely to delight communities where new schools could be accelerated and embitter others where promised renovations could be delayed. And it represented the most striking example of how Bowser will try to manage expectations in the coming year with limited new financial resources. |
| Despite record tax revenue, the District’s overall rate of spending growth in 2017 — and for several years after — will be capped at about 3.5 percent to accommodate wide-ranging tax cuts approved two years ago by the D.C. Council. In contrast, average budget growth over the past several years has been closer to 6 percent. And on construction projects, the District is nearing its debt limit after more than $4 billion in spending in recent years on new schools, libraries and other public facilities. | Despite record tax revenue, the District’s overall rate of spending growth in 2017 — and for several years after — will be capped at about 3.5 percent to accommodate wide-ranging tax cuts approved two years ago by the D.C. Council. In contrast, average budget growth over the past several years has been closer to 6 percent. And on construction projects, the District is nearing its debt limit after more than $4 billion in spending in recent years on new schools, libraries and other public facilities. |
| Anticipating the lower spending growth for much of her term, Bowser in her first year proposed increasing the city’s sales tax, but that plan was rejected by the D.C. Council. This year, she largely proposes living within the city’s means. | Anticipating the lower spending growth for much of her term, Bowser in her first year proposed increasing the city’s sales tax, but that plan was rejected by the D.C. Council. This year, she largely proposes living within the city’s means. |
| Under the school plan, some projects previously promised might not get any money this year, but Bowser says almost all schools would be renovated by 2022. | Under the school plan, some projects previously promised might not get any money this year, but Bowser says almost all schools would be renovated by 2022. |
| The mayor also proposed spending $2.5 million in additional revenue to hire 60 additional police officers and to lure officers away from neighboring jurisdictions. If successful, the effort could allow the District to begin to replenish its ranks from a retirement bubble and help the city confront a spike in homicides that have pushed up overtime costs and hampered department staffing levels citywide. | |
| [D.C. police force falls under 3,800 for first time in a decade] | [D.C. police force falls under 3,800 for first time in a decade] |
| Bowser’s budget also sidesteps a potentially bruising battle with advocates for the poor. Her spending plan does not carry out a threat made last year to cut off $10 million in funding for long-term welfare recipients. Instead, she will continue the funding for at least another year on monthly benefits for 6,500 families who have already been receiving checks for five years or more. | Bowser’s budget also sidesteps a potentially bruising battle with advocates for the poor. Her spending plan does not carry out a threat made last year to cut off $10 million in funding for long-term welfare recipients. Instead, she will continue the funding for at least another year on monthly benefits for 6,500 families who have already been receiving checks for five years or more. |
| John Falcicchio, Bowser’s chief of staff, called the mayor’s budget “progressive, pragmatic and responsive,” following a preview of the spending plan provided to two reporters Wednesday evening. Bowser is scheduled to present the budget Thursday morning to the D.C. Council, launching a perennial three-month debate over city spending priorities. | John Falcicchio, Bowser’s chief of staff, called the mayor’s budget “progressive, pragmatic and responsive,” following a preview of the spending plan provided to two reporters Wednesday evening. Bowser is scheduled to present the budget Thursday morning to the D.C. Council, launching a perennial three-month debate over city spending priorities. |
| This year, that budget battle will also include deciding whether the District should take over operational control of the D.C. Jail’s Correctional Treatment Facility. The annex for 500 inmates has been controlled exclusively by the Corrections Corporation of America, a contractor that runs many federal prisons, under an arrangement dating to the city’s federal control board era in the 1990s. | This year, that budget battle will also include deciding whether the District should take over operational control of the D.C. Jail’s Correctional Treatment Facility. The annex for 500 inmates has been controlled exclusively by the Corrections Corporation of America, a contractor that runs many federal prisons, under an arrangement dating to the city’s federal control board era in the 1990s. |
| In her State of the District address on Tuesday, Bowser laid out a case for the takeover, saying operating the facility would allow the city to better manage space, bringing back inmates from federal prisons more quickly and providing support programs to inmates before they are released. | In her State of the District address on Tuesday, Bowser laid out a case for the takeover, saying operating the facility would allow the city to better manage space, bringing back inmates from federal prisons more quickly and providing support programs to inmates before they are released. |
| A report last year by the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs urged city leaders to take that route and not renew the contract with CCA. The committee said the company was making an exorbitant profit of almost 30 percent on the D.C. facility and was providing little benefit to inmates. | A report last year by the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs urged city leaders to take that route and not renew the contract with CCA. The committee said the company was making an exorbitant profit of almost 30 percent on the D.C. facility and was providing little benefit to inmates. |
| Several council members have already voiced support for spending whatever it takes to hire District guards to operate the facility. Bowser’s budget pegs the upfront costs at about $6 million. | Several council members have already voiced support for spending whatever it takes to hire District guards to operate the facility. Bowser’s budget pegs the upfront costs at about $6 million. |
| In another area on public safety, however, Bowser’s budget sets up a fight with the D.C. Council over whether to fund the centerpiece of the legislature’s response to last year’s 54 percent spike in homicides. | In another area on public safety, however, Bowser’s budget sets up a fight with the D.C. Council over whether to fund the centerpiece of the legislature’s response to last year’s 54 percent spike in homicides. |
| The council this month unanimously approved a crime bill that would have D.C. copy a California city’s model of paying those most likely to commit gun crimes to keep up attendance with programs for behavioral health, education and job training. | The council this month unanimously approved a crime bill that would have D.C. copy a California city’s model of paying those most likely to commit gun crimes to keep up attendance with programs for behavioral health, education and job training. |
| [Paying criminals to stay out of trouble? D.C. could be next city to try experiment.] | [Paying criminals to stay out of trouble? D.C. could be next city to try experiment.] |
| Under the program, the city would pay 50 of its most troubled young residents annual stipends, perhaps $9,000 or more, to stick with the programs to turn their lives around. Most participants would be those who have committed offenses involving firearms and who D.C. police think are likely to resort to gun violence again. | Under the program, the city would pay 50 of its most troubled young residents annual stipends, perhaps $9,000 or more, to stick with the programs to turn their lives around. Most participants would be those who have committed offenses involving firearms and who D.C. police think are likely to resort to gun violence again. |
| The unconventional approach gained traction with council members amid high-profile instances of police misconduct last year across the country that renewed debate over the best ways to combat violence. | The unconventional approach gained traction with council members amid high-profile instances of police misconduct last year across the country that renewed debate over the best ways to combat violence. |
| Bowser, however, has said that she thinks the city should increase resources to police and more traditional job-training programs. She included no funding for the program. | Bowser, however, has said that she thinks the city should increase resources to police and more traditional job-training programs. She included no funding for the program. |
| The mayor’s spending proposal, however, does put a price tag on the council-approved plan to begin using a contractor for ambulance services to augment the city’s overworked and under-equipped staff. The annual cost of running an additional 30 ambulances citywide is $12 million. | The mayor’s spending proposal, however, does put a price tag on the council-approved plan to begin using a contractor for ambulance services to augment the city’s overworked and under-equipped staff. The annual cost of running an additional 30 ambulances citywide is $12 million. |
| Almost 91,000 students are expected to be enrolled citywide next year, an increase of more than 2,800 from the current school year. | Almost 91,000 students are expected to be enrolled citywide next year, an increase of more than 2,800 from the current school year. |
| Bowser also proposes a discretionary 2 percent increase in per-pupil funding next year. | Bowser also proposes a discretionary 2 percent increase in per-pupil funding next year. |