Raising fines and fees, taxing hospitals and slashing upward of 400 jobs highlight Mayor Adrian Fenty’s 2011 budget proposal, which closes a half-billion-dollar shortfall while boosting spending in politically popular areas such as education and public safety.
The proposed $5.2 billion local funds budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 represents a 2.7 percent cut from the current, fiscal 2010 budget. Released in a politically charged atmosphere Thursday amid dwindling revenues, the plan struck some D.C. Council members as implausible, because it spares the most costly government services, does not raise key taxes and still closes a $500 million-plus budget gap.
“You read this document, you think we’re rolling in dough,” Council Chairman Vincent Gray, a candidate for mayor, said following a budget briefing with Fenty.
In challenging times, Fenty said, “We simply have to do more with less.”
Under the mayor’s proposal, about 200 government employees would lose their jobs, and all automatic “step” salary increases would be frozen. An additional 185 vacant positions would be slashed. It was unclear Thursday which agencies the job cuts would hit hardest.
Fenty avoids raising major taxes, but he does suggest boosting existing fees and fines, along with creating a host of new ones, to generate $82.8 million.
» Establish new fees for use of commercial loading zones, use of public space by car-sharing companies, and intercity bus loading: $751,000
» Sell advertising space on parking meters: $350,000
» Charge $100 for “relocation” rush-hour tow: $1 million
Increasing the E-911 tax — a monthly charge on every phone line in the District — from 76 cents to $1.15, for example, would generate $7 million. At-large Councilman Phil Mendelson vowed to oppose the increase, as he has done successfully for nearly a decade.
“Looks like a political budget to me,” Mendelson said.
Fenty also proposes to:
— Increase 75-cent-per-hour parking meters to $1: $3.6 million
— Increase residential parking permits from $15 to $25: $1.2 million
— Increase traffic fines for 71 moving violations: $28 million
The proposed budget increases funding per-public-school-student from $8,770 to $8,945, maintains spending for 4,069 uniformed police officers, boosts the Fire and Emergency Medical Services budget by 4 percent, augments the health care safety net by $61 million, and continues a 10-week Summer Youth Employment Program.
Council members rejected some suggestions as unrealistic or unacceptable. They are scheduled to vote on the budget in early May.
