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As part of the budget planning process, each Council committee holds Budget Oversight Hearings with agencies under their purview. We started hearings for the FY25 budget on April 4, and they continue through May 2. Below is a snapshot of issues I addressed during last week’s hearings. You can watch live or archived hearings here.
Department of General Services (April 8)
MacArthur modernization: I asked DGS to convene a meeting for the community to weigh options for school modernization beyond the currently planned classroom improvements, including possibly an auditorium and expanded cafeteria.
Jackson-Reed auditorium repairs: DGS has finished assessments and is bringing on a vendor to perform the work. I again emphasized the need to have the auditorium in working condition for the coming school year.
Roof leaks at Hearst Elementary: DGS initiated roof repairs this spring, and during two recent rainstorms there were no resulting leaks. They are now planning for continued maintenance and completion of any outstanding repairs.
Mann Elementary HVAC: DGS will complete an assessment and cost study for the HVAC within three weeks.
Wilson Aquatic Center: Director Delano Hunter testified that DGS is targeting Memorial Day for reopening the center, with an official date to be announced.
DC Housing Authority (April 11)
Rapid Rehousing: As the Department of Human Services is removing housing subsidies from 2,000 families, I asked how DCHA planned to assist people exiting from rapid rehousing. DCHA is considering whether to create a preference for those individuals to have access to public housing and vouchers.
Vouchers: The voucher waiting list includes more than 30,000 people. In response to my line of questioning, DCHA testified the city only has 2,324 vouchers available. The department is working to match people on the waitlist with vouchers and increase the number of people they match monthly.
Vacant units: Nearly 2,000 public housing units are uninhabitable. I pushed the agency for detailed information on when these units will be fixed and available for rent, with DCHA responding that they will be ready by July 2025.
Rent Reasonableness: I asked DCHA what steps it has taken to improve rent reasonableness calculations and urged them to do more to improve their data. While the department responded that it has been working with its vendor, affordablehousing.com, to provide better information, I emphasized that improvements need to happen more quickly. DCHA should look at actual rent paid, not advertised rents. I also encouraged the agency to take action to prevent overpayments.
District of Columbia Public Schools & Office of the State Superintendent of Education (April 11)
School Funding: I stressed my grave concern regarding the tens of millions of cuts proposed to school budgets. These reductions will result in the loss of nearly 200 school-based staff citywide. I am working with council colleagues to restore critical funding to schools. We need a process that funds all our schools consistently, so we don’t continue this cyclical fight year after year.
Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund and PKEEP: I expressed my deep concern about the proposed elimination of the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund, which provides critical, promised funding for the educators taking care of our youngest students, as well as cuts to the free Pre-K PKEEP program that would result in 50% fewer students served. I am working to restore funding to both of these essential programs.
Student transportation: I continued to press OSSE to improve special education transportation, including the future of the parent texting program. I reiterated the urgency to establish a GPS tracking program so parents know where their children are and when they will arrive at their destinations. OSSE is aiming to have the GPS system implemented at some point next school year, possibly by winter break — I am pushing them to do it as soon as possible.
District Department of Transportation (April 11)
Traffic Safety Input: In seeing some potential safety-improvement projects passed over for other ones, I asked DDOT how each input is scored and prioritized, and whether that process could be more transparent. Acting Director Sharon Kershbaum explained there is a complicated algorithm that would make that difficult, but that she has faith in the model. I pushed that we need more transparency in how projects are selected, including the ratings of the projects.
Safe Routes to School: I asked whether Eaton Elementary is in the queue for important safety improvements, and the acting director confirmed it is in the pipeline. When asked about Murch Elementary, she responded that it is one of the schools slated for improvements in FY25.
Connecticut Avenue: I asked about the safety improvements planned for the corridor. The acting director detailed turn pockets, curb extensions, and the removal of rush-hour parking, but made clear that bike lanes were not included in the current plans. She said the safety improvements would not preclude a bike lane in the future, however, and that DDOT’s upcoming bike plan study will prioritize a north-south bicycle connection.
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