Appropriations for FY2005: District of Columbia

Publication Date: December 2004

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Banking and finance

Type:

Abstract:

On February 2, 2004, the Bush Administration released its FY2005 budget recommendations. The Administration’s proposed budget includes $560.4 million in federal payments to the District of Columbia. A major portion of the President’s proposed federal payments and assistance to the District involves the courts and criminal justice system. This includes funding for the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia, Defender Services, and the courts. These three functions (court operations, defender services, and offender supervision) represent $457.1 million, or 81.6%, of the President’s proposed $560.4 million in federal payments to the District of Columbia.

On May 14, 2004, the District’s city council approved the city’s $8.2 billion budget for FY2005. The city’s proposed budget includes $2 billion for enterprise funds and $6.2 billion in general fund operating expenses. The proposed budget also included a request for $1.03 billion in special federal payments, which is substantially higher than the $560 million proposed by the President. The District budget request also includes $165 million for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s capital fund, a $162 million increase above the amount appropriated in FY2004, and $102 million in special federal payments in support of emergency preparedness activities — including $80 million for bioterrorism preparedness, $15 million for emergency planning and security, and $7 million for a unified communications center for regional emergencies.

On July 7, 2004, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the District of Columbia conducted a markup of the District of Columbia Appropriations Act for FY2005 and forwarded the unnumbered draft bill to the House Appropriations Committee. One week later, on July 14, 2004, the House Appropriations Committee completed its markup of the bill, which includes $560 million in special federal payments for the District of Columbia.

On July 20, 2004, the House considered and passed H.R. 4850, the District of Columbia Appropriations Act for FY2005. The measure was accompanied by H.Rept. 108-610. On September 21, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported S. 2826, its version of the District of Columbia Appropriations Act for FY2005. The measure was accompanied by S.Rept. 108-354, and includes $560 million in special federal payments to the city. On October 6, 2004, the House and Senate passed the conference committee version of H.R. 4850.

On October 18, 2004, the President signed P.L. 108-335, the District of Columbia Appropriations Act for FY2005. The act includes $560 million in special federal payments and approves the District’s $6.3 billion operating budget for FY2005. On December 8, 2004, the President signed P. L. 108-447, a consolidated appropriations act for FY2005, which includes a provision amending charter school-related language included in P.L. 108-335. This report will be updated as events warrant.