“The fundamental issue with the Mayor’s veto is whether the District’s economic development strategy should be focused on attracting low paying jobs.  Minimum wage should not be our goal.  These are not career building jobs.  A family cannot afford to live in the District on minimum wage.

A sound economic development strategy for a sustainable District of Columbia should not be predicated on low-wage jobs.  The District needs jobs, but they should be decent jobs with decent wages.”

The Council has 30 days to consider whether to override the Mayor’s veto.  However, the Chairman is scheduling the vote for next Tuesday’s legislative meeting.

“The 1963 march was a seminal moment in our country’s history,” said Mendelson. “Dr. King’s historic speech set the tone for the strides accomplished over the past 50 years. And although it is important that we continue to acknowledge the symbolism of that day, there is still much to be done to achieve full equality for all of this nation’s citizens.”

Chairman Mendelson’s attendance is confirmed for the following events:

• =&0=& – Mayor Vincent C. Gray and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton Washington Welcome Reception, The Willard Intercontinental Hotel
• =&1=& –  DC Rally and March for DC  Statehood and Self-Determination, DC War Memorial; 50^th Anniversary March on Washington National Action to Realize the Dream March and Rally, Lincoln Memorial
• =&2=&–=&3=&Let

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Citing public safety issues, Mendelson wrote, “Marketing gun use with alcohol consumption is corrosive to the notion of responsible gun use and ownership.” A copy of the full letter is attached.

Last year, the Council approved legislation (the Social E-Commerce Job Creation Tax Incentive Act of 2012) which provides $32.5 million in corporate and property tax abatements for the company that will go into effect beginning in 2015.

“This budget proposal makes important investments in many of the most pressing needs of the District:  affordable housing, seniors, tax relief, homeless services, truancy prevention, transportation, and the arts,” said Chairman Mendelson. “These initiatives will help to sustain and expand the city’s growing economy. Without the strong foundation of the Mayor’s proposed budget and financial plan, and the cooperation and support of both the Mayor and the Chief Financial Officer, the Council would have been unable to make the changes listed below.”

The Council’s FY 2014 budget proposal funds important existing services and programs, as well as new initiatives to strengthen economic and community development in the District. Specifically, it:

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•  Provides low-income residents with property tax or rent credit against household

income taxes by funding the =&2=&.  In FY 2014, the DC Homeowner and Rental Property Tax Credit (“Schedule H”) will raise income eligibility for the program to $40,000 per year (increasing to $50,000 in FY 2016 and adjusted to the consumer price index in subsequent years).  In addition, individual taxpayers will be able to claim the credit, and the maximum tax credit amount increases to $1,000.

• Funds the Age-in-Place and Equitable Senior Citizen Real Property Act to provide additional real property tax relief to seniors so they can afford to keep their homes.
• Approved eliminating taxes on interest earned from out-of-state municipal bonds.
• Funds the Senior Housing Modernization Grant Fund Amendment Act and increases the maximum grant amount to $20,000 to assist seniors who wish to “age-in-place.”
• Modifies the way the District’s motor fuel tax is structured in order to stabilize this source of revenue. The Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Amendment Act will eliminate the 23.5 cent per gallon tax for gas and diesel fuel by instituting an 8.3% tax on the wholesale price of gas and diesel fuel and limiting the volatility of the revenue stream by indexing the tax to an average price.  The proposal is revenue neutral because both the current and the proposed tax structures will generate $21.8 million in FY 2014.

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•  Identifies $3.6 million in FY 2014 for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Time Limit Amendment Act (TANF)—making the District the 49^th jurisdiction to provide TANF extensions and hardships exemptions for particularly vulnerable TANF recipients.
• Increases funding for the Homeless Services Continuum, including $972,000 for chronically homeless seniors and homeless LBGTQ youth, and an increase of $800,000 for emergency rental assistance for low-income families.
• Provides $500,000 to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) assistance for non-disabled, non-senior single adults; and $400,000 for a rapid rehousing pilot program for single adults.
• Adds $2 million to the Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program (also known as Housing First) for new PSH units for families and individuals.
• Increases access to healthy and affordable food across the District by dedicating additional funds to support farmers programs and food bank school programs within the Department.

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• Allocates $185,000 to fund electronic voting machines and poll books.
• Creates a new position at the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability, to support government transparency programs.

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Increases of $2 million of new tenant-based =&12=& vouchers to the =&13=& to help low-income District residents afford clean, safe, and stable permanent housing.
Funds the =&14=& defines the employer-employee relationship for the construction industry in the District, and details the conditions under which a construction industry worker must be classified as an employee (as opposed to an independent contractor). The bill also establishes regulations barring construction-industry employers from improperly classifying employees as independent contractors.
Enhances DOES’ authority, through the =&15=&