WASHINGTON (Map, News) - The D.C. Council is poised to reject several high-profile initiatives in Mayor Adrian Fenty’s proposed 2009 budget legislation, including a much-maligned strategy to slash public comment on the annual school spending plan.

More than 1,000 individuals and organizations had signed a petition as of Thursday urging the council to rid the Budget Support Act of language limiting the public’s opportunity to participate in school budget deliberations. Fenty wants to prepare the schools’ budget like that of “all Cabinet-level agencies,” which critics argue would move an open process behind closed doors.

Existing law mandates separate hearings on public education spending.

In a preliminary marked-up version of the Support Act, the council simply crossed out Fenty’s language, leaving the process as is.

“Among other things, it’s not really germane [to the budget],” Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh said. “It’s a change in the process, but if we’re going to do that, it should go through the legislative process and have a hearing.”

Schools activists were thrilled, though cautious. The council won’t vote on the act until Tuesday.

“They are beginning to understand that the mayor is operating independent of everyone, parents and the council,” activist Jackie Pinckney Hackett said. “I think they realize they’re accountable to their constituents, and their constituents want the information.”

Though certain to change before next week, the draft markup also:

- Eliminates Fenty’s “Economic Development Support Fund,” which directs money derived from lease payments on the old convention center site and the sale of some District-owned property to adult vocational education and training programs.

- Rejects the distribution of $2.23 million from the Community Benefit Fund — dollars derived from the new ballpark — to a variety of community organizations.

- Maintains the E-911 phone fee at 76 cents per line per month.

William Singer, Fenty’s budget chief, suggested in a memo this week that the mayor may have to “find alternatives that do not require legislative changes” in order to raise the E-911 fee from 76 cents to 99 cents. Singer wrote the memo within hours of receiving new revenue estimates from Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi that showed $35 million less for 2009.

Dena Iverson, Fenty’s spokeswoman, declined comment.

mneibauer@dcexaminer.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

4:20 AM MST on Mon., May. 12, 2008 re: "D.C. Council tearing apart Mayor�s proposed budget"

Roberta Carroll said:
Mary Cheh did not follow the process to add 3 amendments to close Klingle Road. Ms. Cheh does not represent what is best for the environment, transportation or the District and the majority of her ward. There are 13 acres of open green space beside Klingle Road, we don't need more in Ward 3. Ms. Cheh will lose this land that was given to DC as a highway forever in 1885. A hike/bike path in the middle of a road makes no logical sense.

Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

11:31 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 9, 2008 re: "Councilman: Accounting failures threaten District budget reforms"

stinkeye said:
according to Gandhi, mother harriet's theft of funds are "not considered quantitatively �material� in relation to the District�s overall budget.� want to know how we have been impacted? 50 mil could buy a few shiny new schools, pay a few police officers, fix our libraries & parks...not 'material'...how obnoxious.

Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

4:45 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 9, 2008 re: "Councilman: Accounting failures threaten District budget reforms"

Examiner Reader said:
There has been such a lack of attention focused on what the accounting scandal means to DC residents, and the budget. It's all about how daring Harriett what's her name was, and that sort of thing. Well, how have we been IMPACTED? What is the effect of all this in nuts and bolts terms?

Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate