RSS
Home
DC's budget: trying to make sense of it all
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Sometimes I have to ask myself, “Why on Earth do I choose to live in Washington?” Usually, but not exclusively, this happens when I’m reminded how this is one of the most expensive cities in the country to live in. Sure, the cost of living here isn’t on the level of a San Francisco, or even a New York City. But with the new 2010 budget the DC Council just passed, it’s only going to get more expensive. But more importantly, it's only going to make it harder for the tens of thousands of residents who struggle just to make ends meet day to day. And I don’t care what recent media reports have been saying, we’re definitely still in a recession. So what exactly is the reasoning behind this latest spending plan?.jpg)
It’s almost as if Council members voted to post signs on the door of every retailer stating “You’d be better off shopping in Virginia.” We’re talking about a whopping 6-percent sales tax included in this new budget. The Council even saw it fit to cancel this year’s sales tax holiday, which thousands of parents count on every August in order to save on clothes and back-to-school supplies for their kids. And I won’t even get into the unreasonable fee I’m charged every time I order a beer at a restaurant or bar. But while I am speaking of vices, for those of you addicted to (buying) cigarettes, you’ll soon be paying more than 8-dollars a pack due to the approved increase in the cigarette tax. Actually, many of you already are paying more than 8-dollars a pack. I’d say it’s time to start bumming, my friend. And why do you think so many District residents choose to drive across the river into Virginia to buy gasoline? Under this new budget, the gasoline tax will go up another 3-and-a-half cents. Lawmakers also decided to get rid of the 19-dollar cap on taxi rides. Those cab drivers, who’ve been complaining ever since they were forced to switch to meters, can now finally get back to robbing you blind. To that, I’d say it’s time to start taking Metro, my friend.
It’s also bad enough when young parents move out of the city to avoid sending their kids to some of the worst schools in the country. Now, just as those so-called “reforms” begin to take hold in the public school system, the Council chooses to slash school funding by 30-million dollars, and reduce the number of openings in summer school classes by some 50-percent. The Summer Youth Employment Program will also be cut back by about four weeks under the new spending plan.
For homeowners in the District, who continue to receive some of the worst value for their money, Council members wanted to freeze the standard and homestead tax deductions at their current levels. At least it’s not a reduction, but some homeowners really do need all the help they can get. It’s no surprise why I’m still a renter in this town. The other day, I saw a home for sale sign in someone’s yard that read, “You’d be better off buying in Virginia.”
Hundreds of city employees are losing their jobs under this new budget. The police department won’t be able to hire as many new officers under this new budget. And some social service programs will have their funds slashed under this new budget. True, the city is facing a 666-million dollar budget shortfall, and the money has to come from somewhere. But let’s keep in mind, the city does have a rainy-day fund. It’s funny, because I’ve recently read some columnists applauding Council members for keeping the rainy-day fund intact by raising taxes and cutting spending. ISN’T THAT WHAT A RAINY-DAY FUND IS FOR??
Mayor Adrian Fenty still has to sign off on the new budget. In recent days, he has signaled it is acceptable, though questions remain on the amount of funding lawmakers want to slash from the “new and improved“ school system. It is Fenty’s baby, after all. He will have to come to grips with that. And there’s no doubt that Council members have had to come to grips over the issue of raising taxes versus cutting services -- or however the political jargon goes. Right, it’s raise taxes versus cut spending. Or maybe it’s cut spending rather than cut services. Huh? Council member Kwame Brown actually told a reporter they were faced with either raising taxes or cutting services. “People still want their trash picked up,” he said. Really? Is that the best sound bite he could come up with?
It’s all so comedic at times, which brings me to my original thought. Sometimes I ask myself, “Why on Earth do I choose to live in Washington?” I can honestly think of two reasons right off the bat. One is because there’s always something to write about, especially when it comes to the politicians in this town (god bless them). And the other reason is Rock Creek Park. Definitely Rock Creek Park. It’s one of the only places I can go to try to make sense of it all.
Related Articles:
Comments
