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| FEBRUARY, 2000 |
FINANCIAL/OTHER |
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| 202 |
Rein |
Pr. William County May Cut Realty Tax Rate: frm $1.36 to $1.34 in '01, to $1.33 in '02--revenues way up |
| 205 |
Timberg |
VA Assembly May Cut 4.5% sales tax: could lose $364M (v MD $294M, DC $55M)--offset tax-free Internet |
| 208 |
Baer |
Clinton FY01 Budget--16% def; 19% discret; 19% medicare/caid; 23% social sec; 12% other entit; 11% int |
| 213 |
O'Hanlon |
Arlington County Mgr Considers 7% Property Tax Rate Increase--still below most of nearby counties |
| 214 |
Staff |
Councilmbr Jarvis Proposes formal schedule for DC's annual financial rept--due to computer problems |
| 218 |
Fehr |
DC Revenue Likely to Rise by $55M--should offset 1st yr tax cut of $59M--unpaid $28M IBM Y2K bill lurks |
| 220 |
Colton LtrtoEd |
Unfair to Landlords--Fair Housing Act discriminated by forcing landlord to subsidize handicapped |
| 221 |
Melton |
VA Assembly Approves State Budget--requests for teacher pay, universities, mental health increased |
| 227 |
Fehr |
More Delay Seen In Financial Report--now 45 days late--CFO shuffles staff: 42% skipped training classes |
| 228 |
Fehr |
DC Council, Mayor Differ on Tax Breaks in '01 Budget--list gives $139M in breaks to lower income folks |
| MARCH, 2000 | FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 301 | Fehr | Bid Launched to Oust DC Finance Chief--Council blames Holt for delayed annual audit--budget talks |
| 302 | Fehr | Control Board Chair Stands by CFO, Citing Financial Stability--Rivlin pushed Holt, mayor having qualms |
| 303 | LooseLips(CP) | Credibility Deficit--Holt's durable evasive acumen: non-sequitors, tautologies, tangents = gibberish |
| 304 | Fehr | Mayor Discourages Tax Breaks--warns money is too tight for more Council cuts: budget format disliked |
| 306 | Hedgpeth | Funds for Start-up Firms Yield Big Payoff for MD till: $2.5M yearly into local hi-techs yields $50M |
| 309 | Staff | Contrl Bd Chair Says Budget Shortfall Looms--2001 spending rises 3%, revenues only 1.6% w/tax cuts |
| 310 | Staff | Davis/Norton Plan Bill in Congress to Cut DC Costs of 4 Rcvrs: CFS, DCJailMed,Mental Health, SpecEd |
| 310 | Fehr | DC Council Endorses $31M in Tax Cuts--for elderly, 54K low income wkrs--challenges mayor to find $ |
| 311 | Mosk | MD House Passes Inheritance Tax Repeal--senate version would apply only to direct or lineal heirs |
| 313 | Editor | Fire Financial Chief? agrees w/Control Bd to await completion of audit, budget before reviewing tenure |
| 314 | Staff | City's Auditing Firm Complains--criticizes CFO Holt for withholding key info re $40M cash discrepancies |
| 314 | Fehr | Williams Proposes Austere Budget--ignores Council's proposed $30.9M tax breaks--growth only 1.7% |
| 317 | Editor | Can DC Do More With Less? -- Mayor's $3.2B budget tries to do more with 'gauzy' cuts: can he deliver? |
| 317 | Williams | DC Budget Team in Disarray--aides fumble presentation in front of Council without mayor...unprofessional |
| 321 | Fehr | Tax Officials Warn Against Williams Plan--slashing staff in tax collection agency could lose $18M |
| 322 | Fehr | DC Council Warns Budget in Jeopardy--how pay for planned increases? city says tax cuts to blame |
| 323 | Fehr | Mayor May Hold CFO Holt's Fate--only Cntl Bd's Rivlin can fire: she'd only heed Williams, still no budget |
| 323 | Fehr | Williams Proposes 'People's Budget'--plan adds services soght by residents: health, housing. cops,etc. |
| 324 | Looselips(CP) | City Paper details problems, finger-pointing on budget between DC Council and Mayor |
| 324 | Staff | Planned '01 Snow Removal Budget Blasted--DCPW hoped to save $ with new eqpt, less contractors |
| 325 | King OpEd | 'Friends of Ernest Istook'--House Appns subcom head silent on gun ban--doesn't care about DC's people |
| 326 | Kessler | Federal Tax Level Falls for Most in US--middle 5th (avg inc.= $39.1K) paid 5.4% in '99 vs 8.8% in '81... |
| 326 | Kessler(cont) | ...Fed Taxes: med fam inc ($54.9) paid 7.5%; top 20% (avg $123K), 16.1%; top 1% (avg $719K), 22.2% |
| 327 | Pyatt | DC Doesn't Need Sales Tax Cut to Boost Retail Activity--Cnclmbr Schwartz says DC needs 'sex appeal' |
| 327 | Behr | Battle Over Proposed DC Tax Cut Ignores Uncertainty About Revenue--'99 tax cuts erase planned growth |
| 328 | Fehr | Senate Appns Subcom Chair Hutchison Warns City Not to Raid Reserves--Rivlin says dips meet criteria |
| 329 | Perez-Rivas | Proposed 5% Income Tax Rate Cut Lacks Momentum in Montgomery--public prefers money for schools |
| APRIL, 2000 | FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 402 | Fehr | DC Audit Becomes Worrisome--independent reviewers can't account for $40M: bond rating threatened? |
| 402 | Montgomery | MD Budget Benefits Governor's Supporters--DC suburbs (PG, Montgomery Counties) likely to prosper |
| 406 | Fehr | Mayor Says Budget Crunch May Stop/Defer Part of DC Council's 5-yr $300M Tax Cut--for schools, services |
| 408 | Blum | DC Mayor Lobbies Council for Increased School Funding--Chavous questions $40M to transport 4000 kids |
| 409 | Melton | VA Gov Gilmore Vetoes Local Taxing Power--would have allowed local taxing to ease traffic congestion |
| 411 | Montgomery | MD Gen'l Assembly Agrees to Zero Inheritance Tax for direct heirs--provide pay raise for teachers, etc. |
| 414 | Staff | Williams to Slow FY2001 Spending if 1000 Job Cuts not Effected by 9/15/00--hopes to save $37M |
| 414 | O'Hanlon | Arlington Budget Trims Tax Increase due to flush retirement fund--7% more for schools; 3% gov't COLA |
| 415 | Fehr | Williams, Council at Odds on Additional Projected FY2001 Income--how big, how spend,, keep collectors? |
| 418 | Williams | Spending Plan Hands Mayor Advantage--Council must pick: continue tax cut or schools--may slow cuts |
| 418 | Editor | DC Budget Without a Nanny?--Cntl Bd in on last 3 balanced budgets--can't mayor/council do it alone? |
| 419 | Staff | Council Panel Cuts Budget of Mayor's Office, city administrator--increases inconsistent with other cuts |
| 421 | Fehr | DC Posts 3rd Yr Surplus--$105M in '99 may hasten self-rule--could get negative opinion on accounting |
| 423 | Cropp Ltr | The Council, Mayor, and Budget--don't need 'Nanny' as Post claimed--mayor can't say no? tax cut flexible |
| 424 | Fehr | DC Seeks to Tap Commuters' Paychecks--Norton proposes 2% of fed income tax go to DC = $400M... |
| 424 | Fehr(cont) | ...Mayor, Rivlin support tax plan--Rep Davis (VA) says homework undone, doubts need, feds do enough |
| 425 | Editor | Federal Help for District--Norton plan deserves thoughtful, constructive federal response, not knee-jerk |
| 427 | Dozier (Gaz) | MD Reps Morella, Wynn wary of DC tax proposal--"DC's victim mentality" wrong, commuters irrelevant |
| 428 | O'Hanlon | Alexandria to Boost Spending 9%--2001 budget fully funds schools, plans $156M 6-yr capital budget |
| 430 | Staff | DC Financial Report Shows Surplus--3-mos late '99 audit shows $86.4M surplus after $35M debt setaside |
| MAY, 2000 |
FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 501 |
Fehr |
Support Wavers for DC's Holt--Mayor and Rivlin
stop defending finance chief: future to be decided soon |
| 502 |
Argetsinger |
Tax Increase Proposed for Anne Arundel Cnty--4-cent
real estate hike; 2001 budget up 7.6% to $825.7M |
| 502 |
Editor |
Go/No-Go on the CFO--Mayor and Control Bd should
weigh Holt's past record and future value--soon! |
| 504 |
Fehr |
DC Gets Warning on GOP Budget--renewal projects
may be imperiled--lose NYAve Metro Station? |
| 505 |
Fehr |
Control Bd Probe's Fiscal Report's Delay--staff
not properly prepared to convert to new computer system |
| 506 |
Williams |
CFO Holt Hands in Resignation--ending troubled
tenure after 16 yrs, 3mos as CFO--thanks mayor |
| 510 |
Leonnig |
Reserve Fund Deal Could Free $130M for DC Budget--Sen
Hutchison OKs fixed v. annual $150M reserve |
| 513 |
Editor |
Listen to the Council--mayor wants to tap reserve,
tobacco settlement--Council more conservative |
| 515 |
Fehr |
Mayor/Council Plans Diverge on 2001 DC Budget--spending
vs saving on reserve and tobacco fund |
| 516 |
Fehr |
Council Lets Williams Dip Into (excess) Reserve--mayor
resists using tobacco fund as $3B 'endowment' |
| 520 |
Fehr |
$5.3 Billion DC Budget Plan Adopted--Council agrees
to added funds for schools, police, health |
| 521 |
Editor |
Not the Control Bd's Money--set poor example forcing
DC to pick up $130K DoL pay for 'resigned' CFO |
| 525 |
Wilson |
Montgomery Cnty '01 Budget Nears Council OK--Duncan/mbrs
stop bickering re $2.6B ops, $1.7B 5-yr cap |
| 528 |
Fehr |
To Save or Spend; that is Question--Council wants
to save tobacco $, mayor wants to up health programs |
| JUNE, 2000 |
FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 607 |
Fehr |
Pact Reached on DC's Tobacco Funds: 50% of 1st
yr $72M for health, save rest--outyears left open |
| 608 |
Staff |
Control Bd OKs DC '01 Budget--sends to Congress,
OKs Natwar Gandhi as CFO, revenue est up $67M |
| 610 |
Fehr |
Audits Detail DC Money Woes--new CFO outlines bookkeeping
repair plans, staff shake-ups |
| 612 |
Editorial |
The District Does Its Part--DC's $5B budget has
no barnacles--up to Congress to keep 'social riders' out |
| 614 |
Fehr (cont) |
City Debt Threatens Bond Rating--Senator Hutchinson
OKs tax cut, but says $3B debt too high |
| 614 |
Fehr |
Tax Cut Misguided, Senator Warns DC--Durbin says
city ignoring key needs in schools, police, etc. |
| 615 |
Editor (WT) |
Tyranny of Tags--make political license plates
optional, despite whining activists, stateh'd rable-rousers |
| 615 |
Editor |
Tax-Cut Tongue-Lashing--Durbin pouting over DC
budget uncalled for: DC spending is DC's business |
| 623 |
Barras (WT) |
Ghandi to Rescue--DC has long needed 'consumate
pro' for its finances--did wonders for tax/rev shop |
| JULY, 2000 |
FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 701 |
Staff |
Congress Antes Up $4.5M for IMF Protests--Norton pushed special
rider on another bill to recoup costs |
| 714 |
LooseLips |
Congressional Over-slight--Rep Istook shows his autocratic
bent in tirade about 'conscience clause' |
| 716 |
Editor |
Confronting the Commuter Tax--settling for $100K study far
cry from what's needed--but Rep Istook tried! |
| 720 |
Fehr |
Lawmaker Seeks Cut of Half in DC Control Board Funds--Istook
proposes reductions in court system too |
| 720 |
Editor |
The Council and 'Conscience': House should remove restrictive
language, let DC Council, mayor fix bill |
| 721 |
Fahrenthold |
Hill Committee Enters Fray on DC Measure--birth control 'conscience
clause' sought by Istook |
| 722 |
Editor |
Riding Hard on District--Istook riders make bad day for DC:
NYAve metro stop cut, college tuitions, etc. |
| 724 |
Argetsinger |
DC Youths Branch Out with US College Aid--2400+ have signed
up so far for colleges outside DC |
| 725 |
Staff |
DC Finance Appointees Named--Huff for tax/revenues, Upshaw
budget director (on loan from OMB) |
| 727 |
Fahrenthold |
Istook removes $100K commuter tax study from DC bill to satisfy
Rep Tom Davis of Virginia suburbs |
| 727 |
Fahrenthold |
Angry Norton Defends Williams' Reputation re 'conscience clause'--says
she's really had it with Istook |
| 728 |
Fehr |
Moran Rebuked for Text Change--aide cut remarks on Catholic
Church from Congressional Record |
| 728 |
Pianin |
GOP Cong. Leaders Take On Oversight--Hastert urges lawmakers
to raise quality of Cong oversight |
| 729 |
Editor |
DC Bill Without the Votes--House lards DC bill with punitive,
paternalistic bans unsalable in own states |
| 730 |
Leonnig |
Missing Paychecks in DC Blamed on Shoddy Paperwork, human
error, poor supervision |
| 731 |
Editor |
'Record to Leave Town On'--says Hastert, but weakly led, do-nothing
showboating House has done nil |
| AUGUST, 2000 |
FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 726 |
Wiener |
Control Board Won't Dispatch Rent Control--likely
to OK 5-yr extension despite (bland) contractor study |
| 803 |
Blum |
DC Probes Latest Payroll Mess--3-4000 teachers
get summer pay sent home v direct deposit |
| 804 |
Staff |
City to Cover Fees Caused by Late Checks not direct
deposited due to a 'miscommunixcation' |
| 805 |
Fehr |
Control Bd's Severance Pay Criticized--Istook says
plan too lavish--more than DC employees get |
| 806 |
Editor |
Over Mayor's Head--Congress tells city to sell
surplus schools to charters at 25% discount--out of line |
| 811 |
Pierre |
DC Rebuked for 'Unlawful' Contract Hiring--pvt
sector temps far over gov't payscales, allowable profits |
| 811 |
Fehr |
DC to Slash Programs/Jobs--Mayor orders $52M cut
by end FY00, 1000+ slots, pushes efficiency (?) |
| 812 |
Chan |
DC Contract Hiring Cases Scrutinized for Irregularities--is
higher pay justified to get need skills? |
| 823 |
Fehr |
DC to Drop $20M Payroll System--8 yrs in development--city
can't track workers, salaries, records |
| 824 |
Editor |
$20 Million Down the Drain--DC personnel/payroll
system glitched beyond repair--back to '82 system |
| SEPTEMBER, 2000 |
FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 907 |
Editor |
Play Fair with the District--Congress has saddled
DC budget with social riders, spending mandates |
| 907 |
Panero OpEd |
Don't Derail DC's Revival--redevelopment grinds
to halt as Congress chops NYAve Metro Stop |
| 907 |
Staff |
City's Budget Goes to House Today--possible debate
on several issues: needle exchange, charters, etc. |
| 908 |
Staff |
House Vote on DC Budget Postponed--not enough votes
to pass bill with riders, lower funding |
| 915 |
Fehr |
DC Budget Passes House with Limits--needle program
gutted, Metro station cut--Istook says money wasted |
| 919 |
Fehr |
Senator Hutchison Wants DC to Save More Money for
Rainy Day--phase in reserve over 7 years |
| 920 |
Mack/Norton ltr |
Boost for City--extend current tax incentives to
whole city, needs 700K residents, 2x business to propser! |
| 921 |
Fehr |
DC Finances in Order, says Control Bd--able to
meet borrowing needs--one last audit for FY00 ahead |
| 928 |
Staff |
Senate Approves DC Budget--adds brownfields$, caps
attorney fees per case, Metro Sta, tuition funding |
| OCTOBER, 2000 |
FINANCIAL/OTHER |
| 1004 |
Staff |
Sen Voinovich Gives DC Mixed Review--signs of progress, but
troublesome headlines persist |
| 1005 |
Fehr |
DC Budget Goes to Conferees--Norton Warns Battle Could Drag
On as House refuses Senate version |
| 1012 |
Fehr |
Hill Conferees OK $25M for NYAve Metro Sta, $17M college tuitions,
$3.4M Poplar Pt clean-up |
| 1012 |
Fehr (cont) |
Hill Conferees OK needle exchange prog--when Sen Durbin shows
Rep Tiahrt's Kansas has same prog! |
| 1015 |
Staff |
Nat'l Music Museum Seed Money study rejected by Sen Hutchinson
as premature: use old Conv Cntr? |
| 1020 |
Staff |
MD's per capita state tax burden rises $43 to $1833 in '99,
VA $1682--below nat'l average of $1835 |
| 1023 |
Crenshaw |
Consumer Groups Balk at DC Bill to Deregulate Comm Insurance--good
for new business, bad for small? |
| 1027 |
Satff |
House Passes City's Budget--Veto likely over unacceptable
non-DC riders re Commerce, State, Justice |
| 1028 |
Staff |
DC Budget Passes Senate day after House does, White House
says veto coming for non-DC riders |
| 1031 |
Staff |
Separation of DC Budget Bill Urged--Norton and Moran want
removed from spending bill to be vetoed |
| NOVEMBER, 2000 | FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 1102 | Staff | Senate Recesses Without Voting on DC's FY2001 Budget--can't spend $s on new programs, DC Gen'l |
| 1102 | Pianin | Fed Budgets Shelved Until After Election--Clinton, GOP bet on political gains, use continuing resolutions |
| 1105 | Chan | Message Gets Rolling--DC issues first new license plates with new slogan 'taxation w/o representation' |
| 1112 | Pianin | Unfinished Business on the Hill--election muddles lame duck session: major bills, issues unresolved |
| 1113 | Editor | Still Without a Clue--Congress convening without plans for minimum wage, tax cut, Medicare rates, etc. |
| 1114 | Eilperin | House GOP's Chair-Shuffle Begins--term limits bring politicking for Ways and Means, Small Business, etc. |
| 1114 | Dewar | Lott Challenged to Unite Deeply Divided Senate--small 1-2 vote margin makes partisanship tricky |
| 1115 | Fehr | Congress Passes $4.9B DC Budget--Norton gets rare unanimous vote, frees bill from spending stalemate |
| 1123 | Fehr | Competitive Bond Market May Cut DC Tobacco Funds--mayor withdraws settlement-backed bond bill |
| DECEMBER, 2000 | FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 1202 | Fehr | Control Bd Asks CFO Gandhi for plan to avoid $243M budget shortfall--if current spending rates continue |
| 1202 | Editor | Wake Up Call on DC Spending--no $ for DC Gen'l, pay increases, new medicaid enrollees, suits, etc. |
| 1204 | Editor | What Price Car-Tax Glory--VA Gov Gilmore may have to reneg on campaign promise as economy slows |
| 1206 | Chan | DC Council Votes Tech Tax Breaks--rebukes mayor's sunset proposal--cost $3.8M in '02, $1.2M by '06 |
| 1207 | Chan | Clear path for DC Tech-Firm Incentives--includes big firms (!), silly to insist on DC workers if not skilled |
| 1208 | Fehr | Congress (Senate) Yanks $75M in DC spending--mayor's initiatives hostage to solving overrun risk |
| 1212 | Shear | Fairfax Proposes Sales Tax Increase--supervisor, super. want 10yr levy for road, school construction |
| 1215 | Fehr | DC to Consider Deep Spending Cuts--'worst case' plan would save $250M: Congress still tinkering |
| 1216 | Goldstein | DC Health Programs Won't Use RU-486--mayor promises to abide by unique Congressional fiat! |
| 1216 | Fehr | Congress Allows DC to Dip Into Reserves--'rainy day' funds may help city prevent deep service cuts |
| 1219 | Melton | VA Gov. Gilmore Adds Tobacco Funds to Car-Tax Mix--settlement money, other cuts to help keep repeal |
| 1219 | Editor | DC Prudence or Scare Tactics?--city should use restraint in contriving forecasts of impending calamaties |
| 1220 | Perez-Rivas | US Rep Morella Talks Up Her Work--7-term lawmaker had election scare--moderates to play big role |
| 1221 | Melton | VA Lawmakers Fume at Gov's Car-Tax Plan--bipartisan opposition to balancing budget w/tobacco $'s |
