Mayor Bowser returns DC budget unsigned: ‘Unsustainable’

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser sent next year’s budget back to the Council of the District of Columbia without signing it, claiming it’s “unsustainable.”

In a letter sent to Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, Bowser wrote, “I cannot support a budget that needlessly increases our residents’ property and income taxes, raises the paid family leave tax to untested levels, or harms our public schools.”

Last month, despite Bowser’s opposition, the council unanimously passed a $21 billion budget for fiscal 2025. 

This budget would close the city’s $700 million budget gap by implementing tax increases and making cuts to several city programs.

“The budget the mayor proposed was criticized as less about ‘shared sacrifice’ and more about cutting programs that help the last, the lost, and the least. The council, collectively, has reworked this and our budget resets the district on the path to fight poverty and promote social justice,” Mendelson said at a legislative meeting last month.

Even though Bowser sought to cut the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund, a program subsidizing pay for daycare and preschool teachers, the council opted to allocate $70 million annually to fund it.

It was also able to fund two of Bowser’s requests: A youth center on RFK Stadium grounds and the construction of a new jail.

In addition, approximately 600 housing vouchers will be provided to prevent homelessness. 

These vouchers would be funded by a one million dollar cut from Bowser’s proposed anti-truancy program at the D.C. Department of Human Services.

The DC Circulator was also cut from the budget.

“Let’s be clear: The Council’s fiscal decisions are setting the stage for additional tax hikes for our residents and businesses next year. This approach is unsustainable,” Bowser wrote.

Mendelson argued that Bowser’s criticism of the Council’s tax increases and budget totals overlooks her own proposals to raise taxes and increase the budget by a larger amount.

“The final budget has fostered very little criticism from the community at large. Only the mayor seems to still be upset. By her critical letter, is the mayor asking, once again, that Congress take note and intervene in our local affairs?”, he said in a statement. 

Congress has 30 days to review the deal. If rejected, the council and Bowser must present a new budget. 

However, even if unsigned, the emergency version can still take effect immediately.