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B 26-0660

Fiscal Year 2027 Local Budget Emergency Act of 2026

26th Council Period (2025-2026) Introduced by Phil Mendelson

The bill adopts and implements the District’s FY2027 local budget on an emergency basis, authorizing spending and fund allocations across agencies to keep government operations run

Final Reading
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · B 26-0660

Summary: Fiscal Year 2027 Local Budget Emergency Act of 2026 (Bill B 26-0660)

Proposed by the Mayor of the District of Columbia, this bill seeks to adopt the local portion of the District’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget on an emergency basis. It establishes spending authority, fund allocations, and related fiscal mechanics to implement the local government’s budget plan for FY2027.

1) Purpose and Intent

  • To adopt the District of Columbia’s local budget for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027 on an emergency basis.
  • To provide a comprehensive, statute-based framework for appropriations across all agencies and funds, ensuring the government can operate under the Grow DC policy agenda amid current economic conditions.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

Overall Budget Framework

  • The bill adopts the FY2027 local budget amounts (subject to adjustments for federal funds and enacted federal appropriations) and allocates them across all agency programs and funds.
  • It authorizes budgetary adjustments tied to federal funding levels, one-time transactions, and short-term operational needs.

Funding and Flexibilities

  • Allows adjustments to reflect federal payments appropriated by Congress for FY2027.
  • Permits one-time or emergency funding increases to address unanticipated operating or capital needs, subject to local authorization and reserve requirements.
  • Provides detailed authorization for transferring operating funds to enterprise and capital funds, with retention of appropriation authority post-transfer.
  • Permits reprogramming of funds (within statutory limits) through November 15, 2027.
  • Appropriates funds for specific operations to cover vendor and legal fees as operating expenses, with fixed percentages of third-party revenue where applicable.
  • Includes language allowing continued availability of funds in non-lapsing funds through 2027 for specified purposes.

Specific Agency and Program Allocations

  • DIRECTION AND SUPPORT: Funds allocated to the Mayor’s Office, Board of Elections, ethics agencies, fleet/captive insurance, Council of the District of Columbia, Department of General Services, Human Resources, Attorney General, WMATA, and other central services.
  • ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND REGULATION: Funding for arts and humanities, housing and community development, small business development, housing authorities, planning, tenant advocacy, zoning, public charter schools, libraries, and related economic development funds.
  • PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE: Funding for judicial agencies, corrections, police, fire and EMS, homeland security, public safety justice initiatives, and related grant programs. Includes specific allocations to agencies such as the Metropolitan Police Department, Department of Corrections, Department of Forensic Sciences, and District of Columbia National Guard, among others.
  • PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEMS: Funding for the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, District of Columbia Public Schools, public charter schools, school transportation, special education, and related student support funds. Includes provisions for future year payments and performance-related fundings tied to federal appropriations.
  • HUMAN SUPPORT SERVICES: Funding for child and family services, aging and community living, behavioral health, health departments, Medicaid-related programs, HIV/AIDS, substance use, and related funds. Also covers health-related trust funds and reimbursement accounts.
  • OPERATIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE: Funding for agencies such as the Department of Buildings, Department of Energy and Environment, Department of Motor Vehicles, Public Works, Transportation, and related infrastructure and regulatory funds, including a broad list of special in-fund accounts (e.g., Green Building Fund, Renewable Energy Development Fund, Parks and Recreation Fund, etc.).
  • FINANCING AND OTHER: Financing costs, debt service, bond repayment, capital programs, emergency planning and security funds, and settlement/judgment expenditures. Includes Enterprise Funds allocations for utilities, WMATA-related capital, and RFK campus infrastructure, among others, plus a Pay-As-You-Go capital transfer.
  • ENTERPRISE FUNDS: Designated allocations for enterprise operations (e.g., DC Water and Sewer Authority, retirement board, stadium-related funds) to support capital programs and ongoing operations.

Special Provisions

  • Establishes appropriations for ongoing non-lapsing funds and authorizes funds to remain available through September 30, 2027.
  • Provides for the establishment and continuation of various special funds (Arts, Open Government, Ethics, etc.) with appropriations and permissible uses specified.
  • Includes reimbursement and cost-sharing arrangements with the federal government for certain programs and services.

3) Who or What Would Be Affected

  • All District government agencies listed in the bill (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial-support entities) as well as independent agencies and commissions receiving local funds.
  • Public schools, public charter schools, and related education programs (including transportation, special education, and state-level education governance).
  • Public safety entities: MPD, Fire and EMS, Corrections, Judicial agencies, National Guard, and related safety and emergency management bodies.
  • Health, human services, housing, planning, environmental, transportation, and infrastructure agencies.
  • Agencies relying on enterprise funds (water/sewer, utilities, transportation authorities) and those with special funds (Arts, Neighborhood Safety, Housing funds, etc.).
  • Vendors, contractors, and grant partners that receive local funding or reimbursements, subject to the outlined procurement and reprogramming rules.

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • The act is designed to be adopted on an emergency basis for FY2027, enabling rapid implementation of the local budget.
  • Provisions allow adjustments to reflect federal funding levels and to incorporate one-time or emergency financing.
  • Budget authority extends through November 15, 2027 for certain reprogramming and transfer provisions, after which the funds would revert to normal statutory controls unless further extended.
  • The bill references the overarching Home Rule Act requirements, including reserve fund provisions and the need to maintain fiscal discipline, including the contingency and emergency cash reserves.
  • Key dates tied to fiscal year timing: the budget covers FY2027 (ending September 30, 2027), with funds available through September 30, 2027 for many appropriations and specific end dates for non-lapsing funds.

Note: The text includes dense line-by-line appropriation language and numerous fund-specific references. The summary highlights the core structure, major policy intent, and broad fiscal mechanisms without reproducing every line-item detail.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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