Earlier this month, the DC Council approved the final vote on the fiscal year 2014 budget. Throughout this past budget season, Mayor Gray, the DC Council, and advocates across the District worked hard to fund investments in key city services including affordable housing, public safety, libraries, education, public works and the safety net.
To help you understand the major changes to the budget for fiscal year 2014, we have updated our Budget Toolkit. The individual toolkits for affordable housing, health care, education, employment and training, taxes, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, homeless services, and Interim Disability Assistance have all been updated.
Major funding changes in the fiscal year 2014 budget include:
- $11 million to increase the child care subsidy reimbursement rate and infant and toddler child care capacity
- $10 million to increase affordable housing for very low-income families through DC’s Local Rent Supplement Program
- $7 million to increase mental health services for residents receiving Medicaid and $2 Million for low-income residents not on Medicaid
- $5 million to update Schedule H, the District’s property tax credit for low-income renters and homeowners
- $4 million to expand adult literacy and career and technology education programs
- $2.2 million for permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless families, individuals, and elderly residents
- $500,000 for Interim Disability Assistance to increase caseload capacity by 150 DC residents who cannot work and are awaiting federal assistance
That’s only the beginning. To read our complete analysis of how the final FY 2014 budget will impact key issue areas for DC’s low- and moderate-income families, check out our updated Budget Toolkit: http://bit.ly/ZeD2pc
To print a copy of tody’s blog, click here.
