2010 Budget Reforms, Restructures and Reinvests in the District

WASHINGTON – Today, At-Large Councilmember Kwame R. Brown joined his colleagues in supporting the passage of the “Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Request Act” and the “Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Support Act.”  Councilmember Brown commended Chairman Vincent C. Gray and his colleagues for making tough choices in the face of declining revenues and a weakened economy.

“Today we passed a balanced budget that prioritizes spending with scarce resources, eliminates waste and invests in the community,” said Councilmember Brown.  “I want to commend Chairman Gray’s passion for education reform and for taking fiscally responsible steps that provided more fairness for all students.  I also want to thank my colleagues for working together and finding common ground.”

Adult Job Training, Compliance, and Neighborhood Revitalization

Job Training: As chair of the Committee on Economic Development, Councilmember Brown worked with committee members to create a budget that reformed, restructured and reinvested in the District.  The committee, working with the Committee on Housing and Workforce Development, contributed to the budget by giving District residents new opportunities for job training.  The budget provides $1.1 million for the “Get DC Residents Training for Jobs Now Act of 2009,” which calls for adult career technical training programs to begin in pre-existing District facilities, including Phelps Architecture, Engineering and Construction High School.

Compliance: Enhanced funding was provided in the budget for the Compliance Unit in the Office of the DC Auditor.  In addition to reviewing District economic development projects, the Compliance Unit will independently review District agency and private contractor compliance with goals that require local small businesses participation in projects and expenditures.

Neighborhood Revitalization: The budget also makes key investments in neighborhood revitalization:

$1.4 million for Main Streets

• Shaw Main Street                                                         $150,000

• Historic Dupont Main Street                                         $  75,000

• Adams Morgan  Main Street                                        $100,000

• Vinegar Hill NW Main Street                                        $150,000

• Georgia Avenue Main Street                                        $150,000

• Main Street Activities for Rhode Island Avenue           $150,000

• North Capitol Main Street                                            $150,000

• H Street NE Main Street                                              $150,000

• Baracks Row Main Street                                            $  50,000

• Deanwood Main Street                                                $150,000

• Congress Heights Main Street                                     $150,000

$325,000 for enhancement of the BID Litter Clean-Up Program

• Main Street Anacostia                                                  $  50,000

• Barracks Row Main Street                                           $  50,000

• Dupont Circle Main Street                                            $  50,000

• Adams Morgan BID                                                     $  50,000

• Ward 4 BID Demonstration Project                              $125,000

$12 million in competitive grants for 12 Neighborhood Investment Fund target areas—Columbia Heights, Brightwood, Washington Highlands, Deanwood, Bloomingdale, Logan Circle, H Street, Anacostia, Congress Heights, Shaw, Brookland and Bellvue.

“The staff deserve a lot of credit for researching and spending many late nights at their offices to get the budget done,” said Councilmember Brown.  “I look forward to finding new ways to improve the District and keep our city moving forward.”

For more information or to interview Councilmember Brown, please contact Press Secretary Michael Price at 202-445-4510 or mprice@dccouncil.us.

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