![]() The largest sources of DC’s revenue are local taxes and federal funds ( Figure 2). Economic Development, which provides funding for affordable housing and workforce development through agencies including the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Department of Employment Services.Government Direction and Support, which includes many of the agencies that help manage, run, and support the general operations of the government, including the Office of the Mayor, the DC Council, CFO, and the Office of the Chief Technology Officer.Operations and Infrastructure, which includes trash collection and transportation.Financing, which includes debt service payments on major capital projects and other types of borrowing as well as DC government employees’ retirement.The Enterprise Fund, where the District deposits taxes and fees collected for special purposes.Other spending categories, or appropriation titles, include: In 2022, DC Council passed the Budget and Staffing Transparency Amendment, requiring MPD to regularly publish staffing and budget data to increase transparency and public accountability. The MPD regularly spends more than its approved budget, mostly because of personnel overtime. Public safety and justice spending includes the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department. The DC Public Library system is also included in this category. The next biggest share of the operating budget goes to early education and public education, including the District’s traditional public schools and its public charter schools, as well as private school tuition for students who have special education needs that the public schools are not able to meet. Other services target youth, veterans, and the elderly. The majority of the spending goes to health care programs that serve more than one-third of DC residents. This part of the budget provides programs that keep residents safe and healthy. ![]() The biggest share of the operating budget goes to human support services, as it does in most other states’ budgets ( Figure 1). This guide also focuses primarily on the operating budget. Most of the time, when officials speak about the budget, they are talking about the operating budget. The capital budget supports the costs associated with building and maintaining infrastructure such as roads and schools.The operating budget allocates resources to run the city government day-to-day, paying for things such as the salaries of police officers and librarians, electricity and phone bills for government agencies, and health expenses for residents in the District’s health programs.Without Statehood, DC is Denied Full Control Over its BudgetĮvery service DC provides, from trash collection to child care subsidies, appears in the budget every year and lawmakers add new services sometimes. ![]() Words in bold are defined in the glossary at the end of the guide. This guide breaks down the process of how DC creates its budget, including how to read budget documents and where in the process residents can influence the decisions of elected officials. Together, we have the power to overcome the challenges the District faces and put our shared values into action. Through tax and spending choices, DC can invest in the public services that help our communities thrive, reduce longstanding racial and economic inequities, and build a strong foundation for the future. Using the budget to prevent evictions, adequately fund all public schools, and get health care and cash to those who need it are just a few ways lawmakers can transform DC into a more equitable community where everyone can live well. Because of a long history of racist policies and practices, DC’s Black and brown residents experience more job discrimination, inadequate access to health care, and a lack of affordable housing. While the DC budget exists to meet the needs of all residents and businesses, it is especially important to DC residents who are struggling to make ends meet. It determines how the money we all pay together through taxes and fees are spent and reflects our priorities and values.
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