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PR 26-0639

Fiscal Year 2027 Local Budget Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026

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

The bill creates a temporary emergency budget act to keep District services funded and operating before the FY 2027 budget completes 30-day congressional review.

Approved with Resolution Number R26-0423
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Bill Summary · PR 26-0639

Summary: Fiscal Year 2027 Local Budget Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026 (PR 26-0639)

Overview

  • Jurisdiction: District of Columbia
  • Bill type: Resolution
  • Sponsor: Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (co-sponsor)
  • Purpose: Declare an emergency to facilitate timely adoption and implementation of the District’s Fiscal Year 2027 local budget amid timing constraints and congressional review requirements.

1) Main purpose and intent

  • To acknowledge and address the timing challenges in adopting the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Local Budget Act of 2026, given:
    • The need for the budget to be effective by October 1, 2026 (start of FY 2027),
    • The 30-day passive congressional review period required under the DC Home Rule Act (to complete before budget enactment).
  • The resolution creates a mechanism to ensure the District can operate with its approved budget and financial plan for FY 2027, despite potential delays in congressional review.

2) Key provisions and changes

  • Declaration of emergency:
    • Section 1: The Council declares an emergency and designates the resolution as the “Fiscal Year 2027 Local Budget Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026.”
  • Budget timing and emergency act:
    • Section 2:
    • (a) The FY 2027 Local Budget Act of 2026 is expected to be enacted in late June; after Mayor’s review, transmitted to Congress for passive review.
    • (b) For full District government operation in FY 2027, the local budget legislation must be effective before October 1, 2026.
    • (c) Given submission and congressional recess timing, the FY 2027 Local Budget Act of 2026 may not complete review by October 2026.
    • (d) To bridge this gap, the Mayor has transmitted the FY 2027 Local Budget Emergency Act of 2026, which is not subject to the congressional review period and has a limited duration to ensure operations begin before the full budget act completes its review.
  • Emergency adoption:
    • Section 3: The Council finds the stated circumstances constitute an emergency requiring adoption after a single reading.
  • Effective date:
    • Section 4: The resolution takes effect immediately.

3) Who or what would be affected

  • The District of Columbia government and its residents, visitors, and businesses:
    • Ensures continued provision of essential services and programs during the gap period while the FY 2027 budget undergoes congressional review.
  • The FY 2027 Local Budget Emergency Act of 2026 (Mayor’s emergency budget act) would operate temporarily to fund and manage district services during the review period.
  • Congressional review:
    • The standard FY 2027 Local Budget Act of 2026 remains subject to the 30-day passive review by Congress, but the emergency act provides a stopgap to prevent service disruption.

4) Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Likely timeline:
    • June 2026: Council would pass the FY 2027 Local Budget Act of 2026.
    • Late June 2026: Transmittal to Mayor for signature.
    • Post-Mayor: Transmittal to Congress for the 30-day passive review.
    • October 1, 2026: FY 2027 begins unless the standard budget act has already taken effect.
  • Emergency measure:
    • The FY 2027 Local Budget Emergency Act of 2026 would be enacted to cover the interim period, bypassing the congressional review requirement for its duration.
  • Immediate effect:
    • The emergency declaration allows continued government operations and services with a legally authorized budget pathway despite potential delays in full budget enactment.

Note

  • The accompanying materials referenced (budget acts and revised emergency declarations) indicate a broader set of budget-related measures accompanying the Grow DC fiscal plan, emphasizing workforce, education, public safety, infrastructure, and service delivery.

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

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