WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Tazra Mitchell, Policy Director at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI) issued this statement following the DC Council Committee of the Whole and Legislative Hearings, and vote on amendments to the proposed Fiscal Year 2021 budget:
“The Council’s budget moves in the right direction: it raises over $61 million—including $26 million from amendments—to boost funding for vital programs and services, but it still falls short of what these unprecedented times require.
“DCFPI applauds the Council for rejecting wasteful corporate subsidies and slightly increasing estate taxes for the wealthy to help meet the spike in the community’s needs that have emerged from the pandemic, including affordable housing, school-based mental health supports, and homeless services. Yet, we are in the middle of a once-in-a-lifetime crisis that requires bolder revenue solutions to meet the enormity of our challenges.
“We’re disappointed that the Council failed to approve very modest personal income tax increases on well-off DC residents, further scale back the police budget, and put forward or approve bolder revenue changes.
“We’re calling on Councilmembers to approve a final budget that builds on these improvements and addresses the remaining shortcomings, such as allocating the funding needed to stabilize the child care industry and provide cash assistance for all excluded workers struggling to make ends meet.”
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