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CM Budget Updates

The Committee on Economic Development approved its FY2014 budget recommendations, prioritizing a balanced budget, support for seniors and social programs, and neighborhood development. Key budget items included $8 million for Ward 4 projects, $10 million for areas around Nationals Park, $5.5 million for Walter Reed redevelopment, and funding for affordable housing and home improvement grants for seniors.

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Susie Cambria
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523 views

CM Budget Updates

The Committee on Economic Development approved its FY2014 budget recommendations, prioritizing a balanced budget, support for seniors and social programs, and neighborhood development. Key budget items included $8 million for Ward 4 projects, $10 million for areas around Nationals Park, $5.5 million for Walter Reed redevelopment, and funding for affordable housing and home improvement grants for seniors.

Uploaded by

Susie Cambria
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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May 5, 2013 Committee on Economic Development FY2014 Budget Recommendations Last week, the Committee on Economic Development chaired

by Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser unanimously approved its FY2014 budget recommendations. Councilmember Bowser led the effort to maintain a balanced budget and prioritize effective use of government resources, protect our senior citizens, fund critical social and educational programs, and improve the lives of the residents of the District of Columbia. The Committee oversees seven agencies including the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Chairperson Bowser recommended a number of changes to the operating and capital budget for the agencies within the Committees purview. The highlights of that report include: $8M will be used for important neighborhood development projects in Ward 4. $10M to continue the redevelopment of the area surrounding the Nationals Park. $5.5M for the Walter Reed Redevelopment project. Creation of a Walter Reed Community Advisory Committee to formalize the communitys role in this important project. $9M to revive the Neighborhood Investment Fund to support neighborhood revitalization. Set aside of $4.5M for home improvement grants for senior citizens. $800K to the New Communities Initiative, an affordable housing program. Funding to offset the costs of closing streets for parades, festivals, and block parties.

Jack's Newsletter (May 9, 2013)


As you read this, most of the 11 Committees of the Council will have held their committee's budget markups. The Finance & Revenue Committee, which I chair, has the responsibility for oversight of the office of our Chief Financial Officer, as well as our real property tax appeals board, the convention center, Destination DC, and the Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Most people picture the budget as primarily a series of numbers, but there is much more to our budget documents than that. The budget is really a policy document, outlining our most important priorities as a government and as a city, and describing how we intend to achieve these goals. There are actually a number of "words" that go with the Mayor's budget proposal - first are the "budget books." This 6-volume set of books comprises well over 1,000 pages of descriptions of the composition and function of our government agencies. The books also describe any changes in funding and goals from the prior year. For example, I recently oversaw the transition from our broken Board of Real Property Assessments and Appeals to a new Real Property Tax Appeals Commission, which has been going very well. The budget books are a great source for understanding the reasons and mechanics behind a transition like this. Another important budget document is the Budget Support Act. This is a nearly twohundred page legislative document that provides the legal authority for any action contemplated by the budget, such as the specific rules or criteria for a new tax (don't worry, there aren't any new taxes in this budget!). A third important category of budget documents is the reports and recommendations of the Council committees, which brings me back to the opening of this article. My committee report is the best opportunity for me to express my views on the budget in a formal way. In years past, I have used my report the way a Supreme Court justice makes use of a dissenting opinion, to express the reasons why I disagree with the Mayor or my colleagues on various proposals. Two years ago, I provided my rationale as to why it was a bad time to increase taxes and fees on our residents and small businesses, despite the fact that the majority of my colleagues did not support me and voted to raise a number of taxes over my objection. This year, I am pleased to be able to support the budget as a whole, so my report is more of a statement as to how I think the budget dollars should be directed. While the legislature has the "power of the purse," the executive branch ultimately gets the authority to spend the money. With this being the case, it is all the more important that the legislature provide clear stipulations as to how the executive agencies spend the funds we appropriate. Last year, for example, we allocated $50,000 to an innovative nonprofit organization that partners with local farmers markets to provide incentives to lower income residents to make healthy food choices. The nonprofit partners with farmers markets to double the value of WIC dollars, or food stamps, for people who choose to make their purchases at the markets. After we made the

allocation, though, the executive decided to use the money for a less-used voucher program, instead, rather than sending the money to the markets. This year, we will be more specific in our legislative language, while also increasing the funding for this important program. When I see a $2.5 billion Medicaid appropriation in our budget every year, it reinforces my desire to shape policy in a way that emphasizes prevention and gets more "bang for our buck." I am unveiling a new arts funding program in my budget report. While I have been largely pleased with the grant process of the Commission on the Arts and Humanities, I think these grants have been generally too small. This year, I am making a proposal to dedicate 0.25% of our 6% sales tax, around $22 million per year, to fund the arts. From within this dedicated tax number, I want to support large art projects as well as small ones. Without city funding, we would not have an amazing Arena Stage facility, as well as one for the Shakespeare Theatre, or a revitalized Ford's Theatre, among many others. Now that our revenues are growing again, we should recommit to enriching the cultural life of our city and providing this important supplement to the inadequate emphasis on arts education in our public schools. I hope to have your support on these initiatives. Jack

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