The D.C. Council Friday will vote to make massive and deep cuts in the city’s budget for the next two years to close a nearly $700 million revenue shortfall. That’s a good thing.
But, don’t expect the crew of liberals to close that gap solely with reductions in spending. They won’t be able to restrain themselves from so-called “revenue enhancements” — a euphemism for fee and tax increases.
The council’s action may not be enough, however. There are reports the recession will continue beyond 2010. So, when Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi updates revenue projections this fall, the adjustment likely will be downward, yet again.
During last week’s public hearing, Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray asked speakers to identify places where alternative cuts could be made. I’m late, but here are my suggestions. Call this Jonetta’s Hit List, if you like.
In the tradition of Emily Litella, Gilda Radner’s “Saturday Night Live” character, the council should say “Never mind,” snatching back the $52 million in new spending it added in May to Mayor Adrian M. Fenty’s budget proposal. How were they to know that the recession wouldn’t end this year?
» Eliminate the elected State Board of Education and its staff. Even one of its former members, Robert Bobb, conceded last year that a mayoral appointed panel would be just as effective. That would save $1 million annually and reduce by half possible micromanaging of public education reforms implemented by the executive.
» Say sayonara to the city auditor and her gang. I like Deborah Nichols. But, who uses her? When At-Large Councilman David Catania wanted someone to scrutinize Ward 8 Councilman Marion Barry’s alleged shenanigans with nonprofits, he turned to the inspector general — not the city auditor.
» Dump the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions. They fight each other, and no one gives their opinions, as mandated by the city’s constitution, “great weight.” In fact, they often are ignored.
» Merge the Department of Parks and Recreation with the D.C. Public Schools. DPR’s interim Director Ximena Hartsock’s knowledge about the industry could fit in a thimble. But she’s a wiz with education programming. Moreover, the continued reduction in DPR’s budget destines the agency to fail at its core mission. The humane thing to do is make it a subagency of DCPS.
» Cut contracting and procurement by 20 percent. That kind of diet will force critical reforms, which were promised but never realized.
» Persuade Barry to do a Sarah Palin: If he resigned midterm, hundreds of thousands of dollars in fake earmarks would be saved. There also might be a reduction in the number of investigators required by the inspector general to review something the former mayor allegedly did but swears he didn’t. An added benefit could be that the executive could seize Barry’s personal property to satisfy those unpaid taxes.
Now, that surely would be good thing.
Jonetta rose barras, host of WPFW’s “D.C. Politics with Jonetta,” can be reached at [email protected].
