Listen to Bob Pohlman and Elizabeth Falcon:
Elizabeth Falcon and Bob Pohlman
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In a vote that appears to be escaping scrutiny, Tuesday the D.C. Council will determine the spending priorities for any additional revenue that would result from an upward revision of the city’s revenue forecast.
“If advocates aren’t there at least observing and watching and letting them know that you’re monitoring their actions, it is very unpredictable what will happen,” said Bob Pohlman, executive director of the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development (CNHED).
In May, some of the most painful cuts to safety net services were staved off when the D.C. Council voted to tax out of state bonds, just like every state does, with the exception of Indiana.
Now, the Council is considering using potential increased revenue to roll back the bond tax, instead of funding some of the critical programs that have yet to be adequately funded.
“This issue keeps coming up,” said Elizabeth Falcon, CNHED campaign organizer. “The Council [could vote to] roll back the tax on out of state bonds if there’s additional revenue, so that puts it in direct conflict with the programs that are still on the list for funding through this future revenue.”
Mayor Vincent Gray’s revised 2012 budget priorities call for half of any additional revenue to be placed in the District’s capital fund. Presently, the priorities for the remaining half of any additional revenue are set as follows: Housing First ($1.6 million); Homeless Services Continuum ($2.5 million); Interim Disability Assistance ($3 million); Housing Production Trust Fund ($18 million); Children’s Mental Health Services ($900,000); D.C. Public Libraries ($1.7 million); Child Care ($2 million).
“The vote next Tuesday won’t result in anything immediate for the programs that we’re talking about,” said Pohlman. “[But] it sets up the situation… that if there’s additional revenue in September, we’re in line to get that revenue.”
Related Stories:
- Activists Call on Mayor and Council to Provide Housing For All
- Chair K. Brown Stands for Democracy for D.C., Sometimes
- 85 Percent of the City Can’t Be Wrong: Tax the Rich, Don’t Hurt the Poor
Related Sites:
http://www.cnhed.org/