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Since her days campaigning throughout all eight Wards, one of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s biggest promises has been strengthening D.C.’s middle class. But one of the biggest questions since she took office is how exactly she’s going to do that.
This morning, Bowser released her proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2016, which unsurprisingly focuses on “pathways to the middle class.” Among the highlights? budget cuts and tax hikes, sure, but also an investment in housing, education, and transportation. Below, the five biggest takeaways from Bowser’s proposed budget:
Tax Hikes, Affordable Housing, and Combatting Homelessness
As Washington City Paper’s Aaron Wiener wrote about in this week’s cover story, this winter was supposed to be different for the city’s homeless population. Especially after the catastrophe of last winter, Bowser—and former mayor Vince Gray before her—promised we wouldn’t have a repeat this winter and, well we did.
Bowser stands behind her commitment to end family homelessness by 2018 and homelessness in the District altogether by 2025. How? In her budget proposal, she calls for bringing the sales tax back up to six percent (it’s currently at 5.75 percent) to fund services to end homelessness.
Bowser’s budget also draws a financial plan for creating more affordable housing in the District, by setting aside $100 million to the Housing Production Trust fund and at least $2.4 million toward rental assistance through the D.C. Housing Authority
Transportation
Not only is Bowser promising that the streetcar will run, but she’s working toward fulfilling Gray’s dream, outlining how she’ll fund the streetcar to eventually reach Georgetown. Her budget allots $335 million over six years to extend the streetcar from Benning Road to the Georgetown waterfront, including money for H Street Bridge and federal streetscape funds.
Bowser also promises to fully fund WMATA, with no service cuts or fare increases. This includes $791 million over six years for capital subsidy. Additionally, the budget allots $98 million over six years to improve roads, alleys, and sidewalks.
Body Cameras
After the pilot program proved successful, Bowser allotted $5.1 million for 2,800 body word cameras to go on D.C. police officers. In addition, Bowser designated $2.9 million for the “civilianization of 48 positions, allowing sworn officers to perform policing duties,” and $2.5 million toward the Police Officers Retention Pilot Program.
And $80.8 million over six years will go towards funding FEMS equipment needs. They certainly need it.
Education
Bowser has touted a lot of promises in boosting DCPS and her budget shows. She proposes $1.3 billion for school modernization over six years, which includes improvements to Banneker High School, Garrison Elementary School, Murch Elementary School, Coolidge High School, Browne Education Campus, Orr Elementary School, Watkins Elementary School, and a new specialty school in Ward 7.
But the education money doesn’t stop there. Bowser also proposes $31.4 million to increase enrollment in D.C.’s public and public charter schools, as well as the already announced $20 million to open a school for young males of color. Bowser also wants to invest $15 million in the city’s middle schools, and is proposing $184.6 million to Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library.
Budget Cuts
Of course, there’s budget cuts in her proposal that are sure to upset some people. The big one? a 5 percent ($3.5 million) reduction for the University of the District of Columbia. Bowser’s budget also proposes to cut the hospital fee-for-service down to $9 million to bring rates closer to the national average and a $4.8 million reduction for preventive maintenance.
You can go through the full budget here.