FY27 Budget Testimony: Department of Buildings

Policy Attorney Patrick Cothern testified before the Committee of the Whole at the FY2027 Department of Buildings budget hearing. Children’s Law Center urges the Council to expand DOB’s Nuisance Abatement Fund to a scale that matches the real volume and severity of hazardous conditions in occupied housing, protect and strengthen inspection and enforcement capacity so violations consistently move to verified repair, and fund implementation of the Proactive Inspection Program Act of 2023 with clear goals and accountability. We recognize the fiscal constraints facing the District. For that reason, our recommendations emphasize targeted investments, phased implementation where appropriate, and Council oversight measures that ensure dollars translate into measurable outcomes for District families.