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Washington, D.C. - After weeks of hearings and negotiations, the D.C. Council approved the Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Request Act (Bill 15-765) May 14, 2004, that controls spending while preserving and expanding services throughout the District of Columbia. Councilmember David Catania (At-Large) was joined by all of his colleagues in support of this consensus measure.
In order to achieve greater fiscal responsibility and reduce the unsustainable growth in spending proposed by Mayor Williams, the approved budget includes a contingency fund that may only be drawn upon in certain circumstances. The specific terms of such action will be determined in the coming weeks, but Councilmember Catania insisted that efficiency measures and full-utilization of budgeted federal grants be required. "This is not hard stuff," Catania commented. "The Mayor failed to spend more than $200 million in available and appropriated federal grants last year. While some consider it shameful to reduce spending increases, I find it shameful not to spend money that is already on the table." The more than $6 billion dollar measure to fund government operations and programs beginning October 1, 2004 represents a 7% increase from the previous fiscal year. Mayor Williams' proposed budget requested a 9% hike that included new taxes and fees that were not included in the final legislation. Before amending the Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Request Act, government salaries were expected to increase 7.5%, more than twice the anticipated growth of non-governmental employees. Since 1998, local spending has escalated more than 50%. Catania continued, "The growth proposed by the Mayor simply cannot be sustained. The budget approved today demands greater accountability on the part of the Executive and will continue to fund important services on a cost-effective and efficient basis." For more information on this matter, please contact the Office of Councilmember David Catania by calling 202.724.7772 or visiting www.davidcatania.com. |
