Two Tracks to Budget Autonomy

Last week, Chairman Phil Mendelson and the other members of the D.C. Council unanimously introduced a bill to advance democracy for the people of the District.

The bill would allow D.C. voters to amend the Home Rule Charter in a referendum next spring to establish greater budget autonomy for the District. Under the bill, once the council and the mayor approve the spending of the District’s local revenue in its local budget, the city would no longer have to wait for Congress to affirmatively enact the budget.

Untangling the District’s budget from the federal appropriations process is an idea whose time has come. Congress almost never changes the District’s budget proposal.

And the District has produced a balanced budget for each of the past 11 years, building up cash reserves and dramatically improving its credit rating. Meanwhile, federal and state officials struggle to put their finances in order.

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