D.C. asks Congress to fund courts and services in 2027

The D.C. Council adopts a federal funding request for Congress. The request includes nearly $399 million for D.C. courts and money for schools, public safety, and transit. Congress would have to approve the requested funding before the money could be provided. The request covers the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027.

The Council asks Congress to authorize the specified D.C. sales taxes. The rule covers shop and food sales in D.C. federal buildings and certain sales by federally established organizations. Congress would have to authorize the requested rule before it could govern sales. In federal buildings, the rule would cover federal government sales to the public and sales by federal agents or contractors to any customers. Sales by federally established organizations would count only if the organizations are otherwise tax exempt and comparable nonprofit sales would be taxed.

The Council asks Congress to authorize a rule for D.C. reserve spending. The rule covers money from D.C.'s contingency reserve, a fund for unexpected needs. Congress would have to authorize the requested rule before it could govern spending. The rule would apply to amounts over $500,000, so exactly $500,000 would not trigger it. The Council would have to approve covered spending before officials commit or spend the money.

The Council asks Congress to authorize a five-member D.C. Board of Elections. The rule covers the D.C. Board of Elections. Congress would have to authorize the requested rule before it could govern the board. No more than three members could belong to the same political party. The mayor would appoint members with Council approval. Members would serve three-year terms, except the first two appointed to bring the board from three to five would serve one-year and two-year terms.

The Council asks Congress to authorize budget submission rules for two D.C. justice agencies. The rules cover D.C.'s Public Defender Service and Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency. Congress would have to authorize the requested rules before they could govern the agencies. The President could recommend changes but would include the agencies' requests in the budget without revision. Both agencies would send requests to the mayor and Council before sending them to Congress and federal budget officials.