Bowser outlines ‘significant’ service cuts coming to DC – Washington Examiner
Washington, D.C.Mayor Muriel Bowser is implementing notable budgetary measures in response to a funding gap resulting from Congress’s failure to approve the district’s budget. The measures include spending and hiring freezes, as well as restrictions on overtime, which are aimed at cutting $400 million from the budget. The district was forced to return to its 2024 spending levels after Congress treated its budget like that of a federal agency.
Bowser has requested a plan by April 25 to further reduce expenditures, which may involve furloughing government employees and closing certain facilities. Essential services like police, fire, and emergency response could face cuts, even though major projects, like the remodeling of Capital One Arena, are exempt. The mayor emphasized that the situation reflects a lack of congressional appropriation rather than a lack of available funds and announced plans to present a supplemental budget to the District of columbia Council soon.
Bowser outlines ‘significant’ service cuts coming to DC if Congress doesn’t restore 2025 budget
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser said she is taking “extraordinary measures” to fix the budget hole the district is in because of the House’s recently passed continuing resolution.
The measures include spending and hiring freezes along with placing restrictions on overtime pay in an effort to cut more than $400 million in the district budget. A law called on by Bowser on Monday allowed the district to increase its budget by 6% to cut the deficit from a billion to the $400 million number.
The district’s budget was not approved by Congress, forcing them to revert to 2024 spending levels because they were treated like a federal agency. District officials say legislation is needed to fix the funding gap.
Bowser’s order also called for the district administrator to present her with a plan by April 25 to further reduce expenditures through the “furloughing of District Government employees” and the closure of certain facilities.
Police, fire, and the district’s 911 call center could face staffing cuts and facilities closures. They also rely on overtime. Agencies will be allowed to ask for waivers for any cuts or restrictions, which the Bowser administration expects.
Major building projects like the $500 million plan to remodel Capital One Arena are exempt.
“What we’re doing is a stopgap. It doesn’t address the issue,” Bowser said Monday, noting the move will still leave “hundreds of millions of dollars of money that we have that will be in the bank that cannot be used on critical service for the residents of the District of Columbia.”
“When you talk about cutting $400 million, and in some ways it is, it’s hard to call it a cut because the money is available. It’s not like we’re talking about cutting services because we don’t have the money. We do have the money,” she said. “We have to have an approved appropriation from the Congress to spend our own money, and given the amount of time we have left in our fiscal year, six months there, I can’t … take off the table job impacts.”
TRUMP TO SIGN MEMO COMBATING SOCIAL SECURITY FRAUD
Bowser will likely present a supplemental budget to the District of Columbia Council in the coming weeks.
The exact cuts are expected to be detailed in the plan.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Didn’t she used to sing for She-Na-Na?
I really don’t care if DC has less money to squander. As far as I am concerned, they need to end home rule.