The Committee on Recreation, Libraries, and Youth Affairs has held several budget oversight hearings. Check out these highlights below:
On Monday, April 3, we held a budget hearing for the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment (OCTFME). Director LaToya Foster discussed the office’s budget and how it plans to implement programs. The operating budget for the office decreased by 2.8% to $15.25 million. However, Director Foster believes that the office can still maintain the success that it has had.
Foster discussed the success of programs, such as the Go-Go People’s Plan, Creative Economy Career Access Program (CECAP) and 202Creates, all of which are programs that support DC culture and/or residents.
The director also stated that in the seven years of the DC Film Rebate Fund, OCTFME has awarded $11 million to 64 projects – including 29 from local production companies. The total economic impact of these 64 projects for the District has been $161.1 million, and the projects have created 1,704 District resident job hires and $6.5 million in total compensation to District residents.
On Wednesday, April 5, we held a budget hearing for the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). This hearing had 55 public witnesses that discussed a variety of topics from Out-of-School-Time, pickleball and upgrades to recreational spaces.
The new budget allocated $4 million to Fort Greble Park and a $5 million enhancement for Douglas Recreation Center.
Director Delano Hunter spoke on the overall operating budget of DPR, which decreased by 5.6% to $80.4 million. He discussed $5 million being allocated to create “My Afterschool DC,” a central online hub for parents to access afterschool opportunities. He also spoke about the $17 million investment in the Recreation for All program to increase recreational offerings for all residents and a $3 million investment into Recreation for All Community Grants for community-based programs.
This spring, DPR has expanded its hours from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays for 37 recreation and community centers. In Ward 8, Barry Farm Pool will have Sunday hours and Ballou High School’s pool will have additional public use hours.
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