Mayor Bowser presents next year’s budget proposal to DC Council

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser submitted her administration’s proposed budget to DC Council Thursday for Fiscal Year 2022, kicking off a hearing and approval process that will stretch over the next few months.

The $17.5 billion dollar budget got a boost over the prior year largely due to federal stimulus dollars, administration officials said at a press conference.

You can see the whole budget here. Below is some of what we know is in the budget so far after today’s presentation:

Transportation

Transportation investments included in this year’s budget include:

• $351 million for streetscapes, trails, and Vision Zero, including a new South Capitol Street Trail running toward National Harbor.
• $116 million for the K Street Transitway, $21 million for a pedestrian/bicycle bridge connecting Barry Farm to the Anacostia Metro, and $215 million for a new H Street Bridge
• $9 million to support monthly street traffic closures on Black Lives Matter Plaza (which recently reopened to cars) and some other spots, a one-time Open Streets event in each ward, and a “signature Open Streets event” on 7th Street NW from Florida Avenue to the Wharf.

As part of this budget, Bowser wants to add 80 Capital Bikeshare stations that would put every resident within a quarter mile of one. The budget also includes a pilot program for adaptive CaBi bikes for people with disabilities.

Officials also said the budget would create 30 new miles of protected bike lanes over three years and 17.4 miles of new trails.

Housing

As GGWash reported this week, Bowser is putting $400 million in total toward the District’s main affordable housing construction program, split across the Fiscal Year 2022 budget and a supplemental 2021 budget.

Today’s presentation also highlighted:

• $352 million for STAY DC rent and utility assistance
• $17 million for housing preservation
• $67 million for purchasing buildings to turn into affordable housing, including permanent supportive housing
• $113 million for rehabilitating and replacing public housing

Some other notable investments

One area that could see some budget changes is policing. The FY22 budget proposal includes $6.8 million to spread between the Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Works, and the Department of Behavioral Health so those agencies can respond to some 911 calls. That could divert police away from minor traffic crashes and parking issues as well as mental health calls.

Bowser’s budget also includes $20 million to turn Ivy City’s Crummel School into a community center. Ivy City residents have been asking for a community center for years, the Post reported earlier this month. Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, who represents Ivy City, said the project’s inclusion in the budget was welcome news for a community that “definitely could use some good news.”

Finally, the budget includes a number of fee waivers and reductions to help encourage businesses to bounce back after the pandemic. And it also includes $58 million to get grocery stores and restaurants into Wards 7 and 8.

What’s next?

The budget is officially being presented to DC Council next week, kicking off a rapid-fire month of hearings. You can see the full calendar listed by agency here.

Council chairman Phil Mendelson said committees begin mark-ups at the end of June and the first council vote is scheduled for July 20.

This article has been updated to include a link to the full budget hearing calendar.