Check back often for updates and takeaways on the budget process, especially from the Public Works & Operations Committee budget oversight hearings.
Want to Participate in the Budget Process?
The budget process is an all-out marathon from late March until early summer, during which time committees hold budget oversight hearings, agency officials answer questions, members of the public will testify, and councilmembers discuss, debate, and vote on the FY 2024 budget.
You are encouraged to testify, submit testimony, and contact your councilmembers to share your feedback on what should or shouldn’t be in the budget. You might be surprised by how much difference you and a handful of residents can make in the legislative process.
UPDATES
Thursday, April 7
CM Nadeau raised a host of concerns about preventative maintenance at parks, schools and recreation centers in Ward 1 during the budget oversight hearing for the Department of General Services in the Committee on Facilities and Family Services, on which she sits.
Kids can’t feel valued or respected if their physical environment is one of disrepair and neglect, she said, and cited disturbing conditions at a number of facilities:
I was at Garrison Elementary School last week and I was shown areas where literal rat colonies are co-existing in student spaces.
I was at Marie Reed last week talking with the leadership there, and learned their lighting system is impossible for them to maintain and as they await work order fulfillment they have dark common spaces rather than bright hallways that foster the sense of community that went into their redesign.
The K.C. Lewis field in Le Droit Park has a rat infestation and is sinking and on the verge of collapse. Recently a 2-year-old discovered a rat burrow as he played at the Trolley Park – on that same visit his father removed a dangerous piece of the play equipment that had come loose and had been hanging on by one bolt for several weeks.
At Garnett-Patterson (R-STAY), the parking lot also has sinking issues which is causing flooding in some parts. When this happens, it becomes a mosquito hub which puts faculty and staff at risk and contributes to their extreme discomfort during warm weather.
At Tubman Elementary School, I was told the water drinking fountains were broken, along with broken toilets in the girls’ restroom, broken sinks in the staff bathrooms, and broken sinks in the library. The weather is getting warmer, and kids need to drink water to stay hydrated.
Kids can’t feel valued or respected if their physical environment is one of disrepair and neglect.
The recurring issue here is we spend millions of dollars on renovations and modernizations of schools, fields, and parks. We incorporate innovative, forward-thinking plans, such as creating non-traditional learning spaces conducive to outdoor learning for students. And then after all of that, we have preventative maintenance schedule to upkeep our progress. And that preventative maintenance is the weak link and where we have a serious breakdown.
Tuesday, April 5
Thank you to my friends at @LGBTQBudget for sharing your budget priorities & stopping in to chat this morning. I’m ready to get to work on this year’s budget with you. pic.twitter.com/d3eKwbzgLc
— Brianne K. Nadeau (@BrianneKNadeau) April 5, 2023
Monday, April 3
At the PW&O budget oversight hearing today on the Office of Human Rights and the Office of the Chief Technology Officer, I raised concerns and asked questions about proposed cuts at both agencies. How will steep cuts in the OHR investigations budget impact holding violators of the Human Rights Act accountable & protecting DC residents? Will significant position cuts at OCTO – even if they are currently vacant – stunt the growth in the agency’s critical work that is needed, from cybersecurity to digital equity?
Wednesday, March 29
In opening remarks at today’s PW&O oversight hearing, Councilmember Nadeau raised concerns about position cuts, even though they are vacant, public litter cans, composting, towing & booting. A few items from her remarks:
“I’m most immediately concerned with the significant proposed cuts to staff at DPW, even if they are cuts to vacant positions. I’m sure the agency can argue that those reductions will not have any impact to services, but even if that’s true, cutting that many FTEs stunts the growth in DPW’s work that I and so many across the District want to be seeing. From solid waste management to parking enforcement, now is not the time to sit back and coast on what we’ve got.”
On public trash cans: “I would love it if this were the last time we had to discuss the ongoing case of the missing litter cans, but I know my Council colleagues and I are still not happy with the level of transparency on this issue, and I want to understand if there’s a budgetary fix needed for this.”
“I’m glad to see money in this proposed budget to continue the curbside composting pilot, which should be rolling out this year. I want to make sure the agency has a clear plan to ensure that program’s success.”
“It’s one of my goals with this committee to make sure that DPW employees know how much their work is valued by the Council and all of our constituents, and I want to make sure that value is reflected in this proposed budget.”
Regarding the Department of For-Hire Vehicles: “Somewhat of a rarity in this budget year, DFHV’s proposed FY24 budget sees an increase in operating spending by about $3 million – a 12.9 percent increase. That’s encouraging news, though I am concerned about the agency’s reliance on federal ARPA dollars and the impact that could have on the long-term fiscal sustainability of its various programs. I plan to explore this issue more with Interim Director Peters.”
Read the Councilmember’s full remarks.
From the Councilmember’s Twitter account:
“In the second half of our @DCDPW budget oversight hearing we dug into the details of parking enforcement and how it can be refocused with an emphasis on road safety. I’m concerned that there are cuts to vacant positions in parking enforcement & those positions are sorely needed.
“However, there are many areas I’m looking forward to working with Dir. Spriggs on, including a reorganization of enforcement and towing shifts, and refocusing routes/beats to prioritize hot spots. I also brought up this case and issues like it.
“It’s unclear exactly how blatantly obvious a fake tag needs to be in order to be enforceable by DPW, but even when one is, the only available citation for parking enforcement is “missing tag” — not for falsification, which to me is a different offense entirely.
“I also learned today that DPW is still awaiting over $3M worth of new license plate readers that were supposed to come from a purchase agreement with DDOT. I’ll be sure to follow up with Director Lott about that.”
Tuesday, March 28
Yesterday, the Public Works & Operations Committee held the first-ever budget hearing on the new Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection as an independent agency post-DCRA split.
Concern #1: The Mayor’s proposed FY24 budget does not fund the BEST Act, which I joined Councilmember Pinto in introducing and passing last year. The Act streamlines our business licensing system, lowers the cost to start a business & moves DLCP away from being funded mostly by licensing fees. I continue to press on how we can change biz licensing from a fee-for-service system into a core government function.
In another area, I also raised the lack of enforcement of owner disclosures by LLCs. As Morgan Baskin reported, when there isn’t transparency, it’s hard to track down and enforce slumlords and other bad actors. DLCP said it doesn’t have the resources to enforce this now.
We are days away from a final Council vote on my Chairman Mendelson’s Street Vendor bill, which DLCP will be tasked with enforcing. Yesterday’s oversight hearing gave another opportunity to ensure that the agency is ready to implement that law and do right by our vendors.
When I took over the Committee, it was a pleasant surprise to have the Pro Wrestling portfolio! As Camila Bailey’s reporting shows, over-regulation by the Combat Sports Commission has all but run indie pro wrestling out of the District, an issue we’ll seek to address in our committee.
Monday, March 27
Part 2: Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. pic.twitter.com/CA4UmRg4Su
— CM Nadeau’s Office (@CMNadeauOffice) March 28, 2023
Friday, March 24
A selection from Councilmember Nadeau’s opening remarks at today’s Council hearing on the Mayor’s proposed FY24 budget:
The big picture of this budget is disappointing. Is our goal to tighten our belts and generate revenue for the city or is it to make the government work for its residents, our neighborhoods, quality of life and safety? Scarcity does not have to come with a scarcity mindset.
Those who have followed the Council, know that I have always been an advocate for our most vulnerable residents. Using the lens of our most vulnerable residents, this budget falls short in so many ways. Just a few cuts:
- Permanent supportive housing
- Emergency Rental Assistance Program
- Legal services that help people when they are under threat of eviction.
- Services for victims of crime -Violence prevention -Underfunding schools, and leaving out needed supports for teachers.
We’ve been told we all have to sacrifice in a lean year, but DC’s Comeback Plan turns out to be carried on the backs of our neighborhoods and our neighbors, while property and business interests are getting a gift basket.
The logic of this budget seems to be: DC residents need to make sacrifices now so that we can subsidize enough growth downtown to get people to move there, so that in 5 or 10 years, they will contribute enough new tax revenue to allow us to afford the things we want.
Read her full remarks or watch them here:
Thank you @CMCHenderson for noting the Mayor’s new $9.5m investment in a sobering center in Columbia Heights. We’ve seen some early successes with substance abuse outreach in the neighborhood and this new center will be a real boon to central Columbia Heights.
— Brianne K. Nadeau (@BrianneKNadeau) March 24, 2023
Wednesday, March 22
Here we go! Budget season starts with presentation of the Mayor’s budget proposal. Councilmember Nadeau and staff will be poring through the document today and tomorrow, prepping questions for a budget review with the CFO and Budget Director on Friday.
We just created a new Twitter handle for staff posts: @CMNadeauOffice. Follow along for budget updates over the next two months. Councilmember Nadeau will continue to tweet, with additional commentary, at @BrianneKNadeau.
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At the Mayor’s presentation of her proposed FY24 budget, Councilmember Nadeau expressed serious concern about reductions to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program:
I told the Mayor this morning the $8 million for ERAP in her proposed budget is shockingly low. We’ve already exhausted the $43 million allocated this fiscal year and we’re only halfway through. Many people are still impacted by the pandemic. https://t.co/CHp2h0317f
— Brianne K. Nadeau (@BrianneKNadeau) March 22, 2023
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Here are a few notable Ward 1 items we found in the budget so far:
- Repairs and improvements to Columbia Heights Civic Plaza
- Modernization of Bruce Monroe @ Park View ES
- Renovation of Harvard Towers Senior Housing
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In the proposed budget, DLCP’s funding relies less on what they collect on fees & fines (Special Purpose Revenue) — that’s important if we’re going to treat business licensing (and business support!) as core government functions rather than a fee-for-service.