March 24, 2023
Dear Washingtonians,
This week, I delivered my?Fiscal Year 2024 Fair Shot Budget?to the Council. This budget comes?at a critical juncture for our city.?We are fortunate that even in tight times, the District remains well-resourced and able to continue delivering world-class programs and services. Still, the budget reflects many tough choices and it was formed with an eye towards how we get the best?outcomes for our residents and make a strong comeback.?
I am proud to be able to say with confidence, and especially after delivering this budget to the Council, that the state of our finances and the state of Washington, DC is strong. This is our 28th?consecutive balanced budget. We continue to have a triple-A bond rating. We continue to be a donor state, meaning we give more to the federal government than we get back, and our finances continue to be the envy of jurisdictions across the country.
In addition to responsible budgeting, growing our tax base, and prioritizing our infrastructure, the renaissance of our city can be directly tied to two commitments we made to DC residents in the early 2000s: a commitment to transform our public school system and a commitment to invest more in public safety. This budget builds on both commitments and focuses on how we put and keep more dollars in the pockets of DC residents. It includes a?$900,000 investment to cancel $90 million of medical debt for approximately 90,000 DC residents. With new workforce programs, like a new teacher apprenticeship program, we will create a pipeline for getting DC residents into middle-class jobs. We are also raising the eligibility for the childcare subsidy from 250% to 300% of the federal poverty line, which will make the families of more than 2,000 additional children newly eligible for the subsidy.?
Through investments in our comeback, especially in our downtown, we can and will ensure a strong recovery from COVID. By going all in on our Housing in Downtown program, increasing our investment in FY28 from $6.8 million to $41 million, we can add 15,000 residents and transform downtown into a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood.?With $1.5 million for a Festival Fund, we can attract more visitors downtown. With investments in a transformed K Street and a renovated Farragut Square, we are also creating new destinations downtown and making it easier to reach them. And while we continue to get dollars out the door from our Vitality Fund, we are also making it easier to attract and retain businesses by subsidizing the cost of office space renovations with a $1.5 million Creative and Open Space Modernization fund. The success of downtown is critical to the success of our city, and this budget reflects that.
So, while this?budget is tighter than our past few budgets, it makes big investments in our residents, employees, and our union partners. And it builds on the programs and strategies that we know work for our community.
Today, the question was asked: Are we focusing on raising revenues or focusing on our people? And the answer is: yes and yes. We are focused on both ? because we have to have revenues to invest in our people.
Learn more about my Fiscal Year 2024 Budget at budget.dc.gov.
Sincerely,
 Join Mayor Bowser and the Mayor?s Office on Women?s Policy and Initiatives (MOWPI) for an awards ceremony honoring influential women who have made significant contributions towards enriching the lives of women and families in DC.?
- When: Thursday, March 30 @ 6:00 p.m.??
- Where: Hotel Zena (1155 14th St NW)?
- Register to attend HERE
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 This week, DC Public Schools (DCPS) launched a family guide for summer learning programs. Every summer, DCPS offers summer learning opportunities for elementary, middle, and high school students. The summer programs offered include acceleration academies for elementary school students, career exploration for middle school students, credit courses for high school students, and more.
Most of the summer programs take place from July 3 to August 4 for full or half-days and include breakfast and lunch. The programs are free, but you must be a DCPS student to attend.
Find the family guide at?dcpsstrong.com/summer.
Register a DCPS student for a summer program?HERE.
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 Mayor Bowser and the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) are inviting residents who intend to work at DPR to register for free lifeguard training.
DPR uses the International Lifeguard Training Program to train and certify lifeguards to work at both indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities across the District. Those not looking to become a DPR lifeguard can still register for the course for a $250 fee.
Certification courses are being held from February-June. Register for an upcoming lifeguard training course?HERE
To learn more, visit dpr.dc.gov/lifeguard.
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