D.C.’s $417million budget surplus made headlines last week as officials marked their surprise and their delight. City Mayor Vincent Gray released a statement saying that the majority of that money would go directly into D.C.’s reserve fund–a sort of rainy day account. But on Wednesday, lifelong DC politician, Councilman Marion Barry (D Ward-8), announced a different intention. He suggests using up to $100million–which could be done without congressional approval–of the surplus to aide some of the city’s poor. Barry says the money should be spent on affordable housing options, services for the homeless, and job training, areas where the otherwise financially well-off city is failing.
For Barry’s spending plan to be approved, a majority of the City Council will have to vote in agreement.
