Budget Season Kicks Off!

Kickoff excitement has taken hold of DCFPI offices”¦.no, not the kickoff of this weekend’s Superbowl, because then we’d have to debate the economic-development value of publicly funded stadium deals”¦.but DC budget season kickoff, which begins with the release of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) today.

This morning, we found out $321 million more was collected than was spent in fiscal year 2013 — the surplus. Then on Wednesday, we will see the debut of our new Chief Financial Officer, Jeff DeWitt, when he testifies as CFO before the DC Council.

And the next week is the beginning agency performance oversight hearings. These hearings are where you can talk to councilmembers about your interactions with DC government, your ideas to improve performance, and ways the agency could perhaps save money.

A few hearings to highlight:

Feb. 11                         Department of Housing and Community Development

Feb. 12                         Public Briefing by DC Tax Revision Commission

Feb. 13                         DC Public Schools

Feb. 19                         Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
Deputy Mayor for Education

Feb. 24                         Office of the State Superintendent for Education

Feb. 26                         Department of Human Services
Department of Employment Services

March 6                       DC Public Charter Schools and Charter School Board