Susie Cambria

From: Sent: To: Tolliver, Denise (Council) <dtolliver@DCCOUNCIL.US> Wednesday, May 22, 2013 6:40 PM Moore, Brian (COUNCIL); Sibert, Karen (Council); Budoff, Jennifer (Council); Carraway, Averil (COUNCIL); Joyner, Angela (Council); Cash, Evan W. (Council); Calhoun, Dionne (Council); Jackson, Darrell (Council); Young, Benjamin (Council); Pesante, Kiara (Council); Allen, Charles (COUNCIL); Meadows, David (Council); Foster, Latoya (Council); Woodland, Calvin (COUNCIL); Holland, Joy (COUNCIL) District Budget Passes Council

Subject:

Office of Chairman Phil Mendelson

Council of the District of Columbia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2013

CONTACT:
Denise Tolliver, 202-724-8779 dtolliver@dccouncil.us

DC COUNCIL PASSES FY 2014 BUDGET PROPOSAL

WASHINGTON, DC -- Council Chairman Phil Mendelson lauded todays unanimous vote on the Districts fiscal year 2014 budget. The approval of the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Request Act of 2013, providing the funding for agencies and programs throughout District government, and the passage, on first reading, of the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Support Act of 2013, collectively comprise the Districts budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Chairman Mendelson, in presenting the proposal to the Council, highlighted several key facets of the budget: Today the Council was able to reconcile strong differences to reach a unanimous vote on the Districts budget. We were able to provide additional funds to support affordable housing and our senior citizens, all while living within our means. While the budget adopted by the Council adds significant funding for programs and services to those most in need, it does so without raising taxes and, in fact, repeals the tax on out-of-state municipal bonds. The budget approved today provides significant investment in programs and services for seniors. For example, the Council is funding the Age-in-Place and Equitable Senior Citizen Real Property Act, which provides additional real property tax relief to seniors so they can afford to keep their homes. Similarly, additional dollars are provided in this budget for the Senior Housing Modernization Grant Fund to assist seniors who wish to age-in-place. The maximum grant amount for this program is raised to $20,000. The Council also increases funding for the Homeless Services Continuum to help address increased homelessness in our senior population.

With regard to affordable housing and our most vulnerable families, the Council directs a number of resources to provide relief and improve services. The Council approved funding for the Schedule H Property Tax Relieve Act, which provides low-income residents with property tax or rent credit against household income taxes. The Council also increased funding by $1.75 million over the additional $2 million approved in the FY 2013 supplemental budget for the Local Rent Supplement voucher program. This funding will allow more District residents to afford permanent housing. The adopted budget also provides another $500,000 to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, $400,000 for a rapid rehousing pilot program for single adults, and approximately $1.75 million is added for the Permanent Supportive Housing program (also known as Housing First) to provide new housing for families and individuals. The Council also identified funding for a number of important homeless services programs in this budget, increasing the budget for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Homeless Services Continuum, and Permanent Support of Affordable Housing. While the budget adopted by the Council today makes a number of important and needed investments in the most vulnerable populations in the District, including a $3.6 million added to the TANF and an additional $6 million for homeless services, it does so without raising taxes. This budget also continues the Districts obligation to the education of our youth by restoring funding which was proposed to be cut, and providing an increase of $1.2 million to provide library services for schools which have lost funding for librarians. The budget continues our commitment to school modernization across the district and across grade levels. The Councils review and modification of the Mayors budget request, which has involved numerous hours of testimony and work across the Councils committees, ensures that District residents are afforded an opportunity to have their voices heard. The outcome has shown the Councils ability to provide needed services across the government, while continuing to responsibly live within our means. ###

Denise Tolliver Chief of Staff Council Chairman Phil Mendelson 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 502 Washington, DC 20004 (202) 724-8032 dtolliver@dccouncil.us