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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 |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) on Thursday proposed overhauling how the city pays for school modernization projects — consolidating funding into fewer but more complete refurbishments — as part of a $13.4 billion spending plan for the next budget year. | D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) on Thursday proposed overhauling how the city pays for school modernization projects — consolidating funding into fewer but more complete refurbishments — as part of a $13.4 billion spending plan for the next budget year. |
| The plan appeared likely to delight neighborhoods where school renovations would be accelerated but anger others where promised improvements would 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 neighborhoods where school renovations would be accelerated but anger others where promised improvements would 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. |
| Almost 91,000 students are expected to be enrolled citywide next year, an increase of more than 2,800 from the current school year, the budget shows. | Almost 91,000 students are expected to be enrolled citywide next year, an increase of more than 2,800 from the current school year, the budget shows. |
| [Funds for long-postponed rehab of Murch Elementary fall short] | [Funds for long-postponed rehab of Murch Elementary fall short] |
| Although tax revenue may be significantly higher, the District’s overall rate of spending growth in 2017 — and for many years after — will be capped at about 3 percent to accommodate tax cuts approved two years ago by the D.C. Council. | Although tax revenue may be significantly higher, the District’s overall rate of spending growth in 2017 — and for many years after — will be capped at about 3 percent to accommodate 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. When it comes to construction projects, the District is nearing its debt limit after spending more than $10 billion on new schools, libraries and other public works projects. | In contrast, average budget growth over the past several years has been closer to 6 percent. When it comes to construction projects, the District is nearing its debt limit after spending more than $10 billion on new schools, libraries and other public works projects. |
| Anticipating that financial squeeze for much of her term, Bowser in her first year proposed increasing the city’s sales tax, but that plan was rejected last year by the D.C. Council. This year, she largely proposed living within the city’s means, divvying up about $228 million in new income across priorities ranging from schools to homeless services to public safety. | Anticipating that financial squeeze for much of her term, Bowser in her first year proposed increasing the city’s sales tax, but that plan was rejected last year by the D.C. Council. This year, she largely proposed living within the city’s means, divvying up about $228 million in new income across priorities ranging from schools to homeless services to public safety. |
| Bowser, however, said she wasn’t complaining. With the city’s economy still strong, she said the District remains the envy of other municipalities nationwide. | Bowser, however, said she wasn’t complaining. With the city’s economy still strong, she said the District remains the envy of other municipalities nationwide. |
| “It’s a good time in Washington, D.C.,” Bowser said. “But you can’t go back to bad habits, and certainly, we haven’t. This is a fiscally responsible budget that is balanced, that works with the revenues that we have. We haven’t asked the taxpayers for any new money.” | “It’s a good time in Washington, D.C.,” Bowser said. “But you can’t go back to bad habits, and certainly, we haven’t. This is a fiscally responsible budget that is balanced, that works with the revenues that we have. We haven’t asked the taxpayers for any new money.” |
| The bulk of new revenue would go to schools. Bowser would increase operating funding by roughly $75 million, but on the construction side, some projects previously promised to start this year would be delayed if the council agrees to her plan. | The bulk of new revenue would go to schools. Bowser would increase operating funding by roughly $75 million, but on the construction side, some projects previously promised to start this year would be delayed if the council agrees to her plan. |
| Bowser’s plan also increases spending on police. She has proposed directing $2.5 million in new revenue to hire 60 additional police officers and lure officers from neighboring jurisdictions. If successful, the effort could allow the District to begin to replenish its ranks of retiring officers and help the city confront a spike in homicides that have pushed up overtime costs and hampered department staffing levels citywide. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier called it one of the best budgets since she took the job a decade ago. | |
| [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 also reallocated federal funds for the poor to sidestep a potentially bruising battle with advocates for the underserved. 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, providing monthly benefits for 6,500 families who have already been receiving subsidies for five years or more. | Bowser also reallocated federal funds for the poor to sidestep a potentially bruising battle with advocates for the underserved. 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, providing monthly benefits for 6,500 families who have already been receiving subsidies for five years or more. |
| The mayor’s plan received a largely warm reception from the D.C. Council on Thursday, as the release launched a perennial three-month debate over city spending priorities. | The mayor’s plan received a largely warm reception from the D.C. Council on Thursday, as the release launched a perennial three-month debate over city spending priorities. |
| The council has broad latitude to change Bowser’s budget and this year the debate will 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 1990s when the city was run by a federal control board. | The council has broad latitude to change Bowser’s budget and this year the debate will 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 1990s when the city was run by a federal control board. |
| In her State of the District address Tuesday, Bowser laid out a case for the takeover, saying it would allow the city to better manage space, bring back inmates from federal prisons more quickly and provide 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 end its relationship with the CCA. The committee said the company was making an exorbitant profit of almost 30 percent on the D.C. facility and providing little benefit to inmates. | |
| Several council members voiced support for the takeover plan Thursday, which Bowser estimates will cost about $6 million. | Several council members voiced support for the takeover plan Thursday, which Bowser estimates will cost about $6 million. |
| In another aspect of public safety, however, Bowser’s budget sets up a fight with the council over whether to fund the centerpiece of its response to last year’s 54 percent spike in homicides. | In another aspect of public safety, however, Bowser’s budget sets up a fight with the council over whether to fund the centerpiece of its response to last year’s 54 percent spike in homicides. |
| The council this month unanimously approved a crime bill that calls for the District to pay those most likely to commit gun crimes not to pull the trigger. Participants would also have to attend programs for behavioral health, education and job training. | The council this month unanimously approved a crime bill that calls for the District to pay those most likely to commit gun crimes not to pull the trigger. Participants would also have to attend 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, modeled after a similar strategy in a California city, the District 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 are likely to resort to gun violence again, according to authorities. | Under the program, modeled after a similar strategy in a California city, the District 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 are likely to resort to gun violence again, according to authorities. |
| But Bowser included no funding for the program, saying the city should instead increase resources to police and more traditional job-training programs. | But Bowser included no funding for the program, saying the city should instead increase resources to police and more traditional job-training programs. |
| “The important part is that justice-involved juveniles have job opportunities and this budget accomplishes that,” she said. | “The important part is that justice-involved juveniles have job opportunities and this budget accomplishes that,” she said. |
| Council member Kenyan R. McDuffie (D-Ward 5), the author of the plan and chair of the council’s public safety committee, has threatened to shift resources from Bowser’s other priorities to launch the experimental program. | Council member Kenyan R. McDuffie (D-Ward 5), the author of the plan and chair of the council’s public safety committee, has threatened to shift resources from Bowser’s other priorities to launch the experimental program. |
| In fire and emergency services, Bowser’s spending proposal includes $30 million for a council-approved plan to add 30 private ambulances to augment the city’s overworked and underequipped staff. | In fire and emergency services, Bowser’s spending proposal includes $30 million for a council-approved plan to add 30 private ambulances to augment the city’s overworked and underequipped staff. |