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D.C. Mayor's Budget Plan Won't Raise Taxes

By: Patrick Madden // March 23, 2012
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D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray will introduce a budget plan for the coming year today.
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D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray will introduce a budget plan for the coming year today.

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray rolls out his budget for the upcoming fiscal year today, and sources at the Wilson Building say the proposed spending plan will not include any tax increases.

To close next year's budget gap, which Gray puts at $172 million, the mayor's blueprint relies on savings found during the One City Performance Review. It was a top-to-bottom scrubbing of every city agency to find wasteful spending

The plan also relies on some new, non-traditional revenue, including speeding tickets and alcohol sales, according to city hall sources. Gray is also expected to propose raising the per-pupil spending for public charter schools and traditional public schools by 2 percent. 

As for the much-maligned Office of Campaign Finance, a source says Gray's budget will beef up the staffing and resources there too. Gray earlier this week called for comprehensive campaign finance reform for the District; part of his proposal was a more robust OCF. 

Once Gray submits the budget, council members will have about two months to make changes and finalize the spending plan. 

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