FY11 Budget Testimony: Budget Gap Closing Hearing
Executive Director Judith Sandalow testified at the budget gap closing hearing for FY 2011 that several of the proposed cuts impact critical programs. Specifically, the Mayor is proposing to cut these vital programs by the following amounts:
- Grandparents Caregiver Program: $2.6 million
- Community Collaboratives: $1.25 million
- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families: $4.6 million
These cuts would deeply impact local families already struggling during the recession by removing critical safety nets, and putting thousands of the District’s children at greater risk. CLC proposed securing federal dollars and making strategic reductions in programs less vital to the fundamental welfare of DC’s children in order to restore these cuts:
- Eliminate administrative reviews: saves $1 million
- Fully eliminate tutoring contracts: saves $1 million
- Eliminate volunteer mentoring grants: saves $637,500
- Access Federal Support for Guardianship Subsidies: generates $3.2 – $4.8 million
- Access Federal Support for Foster Youth 18-20 Years Old: generates $2.15 – $12.89 million
- Access Federal Support for School Stability Transportation: generates $108,000 – $1.3 million
- Access Federal Support for Case Planning Meetings: generates $405,000 – $607,500
CLC also urges the Council to take a balanced approach to closing the budget gap – in addition to making strategic and targeted cuts and enhancing federal revenue the council should provide limited increases in taxes.
Please take a moment to read the full testimony here.