| JANUARY, 1998 | FINANCIAL/OTHER |
|---|
| 101 | LeDuc | Maryland
Meets New Year With Income Tax Cut--avg to drop 10% in five years |
| 103 | Vise | Brimmer
Details $185M in New Initiatives--roads, pers., contracts, technology, asset mgmt--Barry adds
100 |
| 103 | Harris | Broken Parking Meters Still Costing City Revenue
($6.7M)--contract dispute, red tape--8000 meters out |
| 106 | Staff | Reforms May Not Be Complete
Until After 2000--269 projects to need $185M...some stretch out |
| 111 | Allen | Robust
Economy to Drive VA State Legislature to Phase out vehicle tax |
| 114 | LeDuc | Maryland
Lawmakers in a Mood to Spend--surplus seen as election-year bonanza |
| 114 | Staff | Control
Board Asked to 'Reevaluate' Leadership by Sen Brownback--slow pace of DC School
reform |
| 114 | Staff | VA Sen. Warner blasts Commuter Tax Idea: Jeffords for 3% tax
on DC income--over Warner's dead body |
| 117 | Vise | DC To Post Surplus for FY97,
vice $74M deficit--revenues up, spending controls, unspent $ for services |
| 128 | Spinner | Lack of
Income Tax Growth Worries Pr. George's Officials--+2.9% v +7.5% for State of
MD |
| 129 | Vise | '98 DC Budget Looks Even Better--see $160M surplus--Barry
says cut taxes re tourism, residential tax OK |
| 130 | Vise | Clinton Plan Adds Funds for DC
--$120M (in '99 Fed Budget) aimed at schools, new ec. dev. agency |
| 131 | Vise | Surplus
Doesn't Ensure Return of Power, Norton Says--can't just balance budget w/o visible
improvements |
| 131 | Editor | Barry-Taylor Budget Attack--'friend' Barry says too litte;
'enemy' Taylor, too much--DC never has it easy |
| FEBRUARY, 1998 |
|---|
| | |
| 203 | Vise | DC CMO (Barnett) to Focus on
'Our Face to the Customer'--hire more professionals--push regional coop. |
| 206 | Vise | Control
Board Considers (Phased) Repeal of Rent Controls--left out of DC Council Reg Reform
Bill |
| 209 | Loeb/Vise | The Man Who Tamed DC's Fiscal Mess: Williams took
city from financial collapse to recovery |
| 210 | Editor | DC's Rags to Riches Story:
kudos for CntlBd and indep. CFO for hard work, stiff spine to balance budget |
| 210 | Vise | DC
Reports $186M Budget Surplus: revs +$110M , 1-time sale -$54M; medicaid -$54M;
underspent -$41.5M |
| 212 | Vise/Loeb | Barry Wants Control Bd's Term Tied to (Balanced)
Budgets: Rep Davis insists city services work too |
| 213 | Williams/Vise | DC Officials Seek
Harmony on '99 Budget--Barry lists priorities for Council, CMO--cooperation
praised |
| 225 | LeDuc | Maryland's Tax-cutting Question:--$283M surplus--lower
income or property taxes, add-ons UMd. disabled? |
| MARCH, 1998 |
|---|
| 303 | Vise | Financial Fixes Get DC Better
Credit Rating--now at highest junk level--will lower cost of $3.4B debt-- |
| 303 | Editor | The
President's Control Board--don't go for entirely new membership--need to keep experience
gained |
| 305 | Vise | Norton Urges More Tax Breaks for DC Business,
Residents--renews call for 15% flat tax, business brks |
| 307 | King | Clandestine Contest for
Power--lists names for Bd: Gibson,Golden,Mack, Cole, Schneider, Hobson etal. |
| 308 | Vise | DC
Fiscal Future Glows: Rosy Outlook May Mean Tax Cuts:--surpluses frm $348 in '98 dwn to
$150 in '02 |
| 310 | Staff | New DC Grants Management Official Named (frm Feds), new
CFO for UDC named--also outsider? |
| 310 | Hsu/Nakashima | VA Panel Reaches
Deal to Cut Car Tax ($447M) and Build Schools ($350M) |
| 311 | LeDuc | Surplus
Makes Tax Cuts a Priority in MD--now expect $353M this year--go for tax cuts? |
| 312 | Nakashima | VA House Passes Car-Tax Compromise--state could
borrow $350M to build schools |
| 312 | Editor | DC, Don't Spend It Yet--too
soon to talk about spending surplus--avoid 'giddy, dreamy-eyed musing' |
| 313 | Hsu | VA Senate
Rejects House Plan on Car Tax, School Construction |
| 319 | Staff | Finance Chief Says DC Making
Progress--way ahead of last year in processing tax returns too |
| 320 | Vise | Brimmer's
Colleagues Want Him Out...DC Control Board members say they'll go if Brimmer
reappointed |
| 321 | Vise | Control Board Chairman Won't Serve Second Term--avoid
problems--Raines to pick successor? |
| 321 | Editor | The Right Chairman for the Job
at the time--new leadership--appointed and elected--needed to finish job |
| 321 | Montgomery | DC
Convention Center Authority Criticized--US officials say agency has not fulfilled agreements to
Shaw |
| 323 | Behr | DC Dilemma--Add Jobs or Residents--lower taxes or expand
base?--residents better due to income tax |
| 324 | Loeb | DC Gives Big Bonuses to
Finance Director (Williams)--adds $20K to $118K pay |
| 325 | Staff | Montgomery Cnty proposes Tax
Breaks--income and property taxes to be cut |
| 326 | Wilgoren | DC Prepares to Settle Old
Debts--$43M to be paid to 1600 vendors, some owed since 1995 |
| 329 | Powell | Overhauling a City: Lessons and Limits--Brimmer,
Becton--can't rely on top-down reform?..too autocratic? |
| 329 | Editor | MD Governor Glendening's
Budget Win--cut taxes, fix schools, help the poor--who could object? |
| 331 | Spinner | Little
Pain, Some Gain in Pr. George's Budget--Curry would leave tax rates alone, help schools, gov't
raises |
| APRIL, 1998 | |
|---|
| 402 | Loeb | DC
Politics: Brimmer Still Critical of DC Leaders--city only half reformed: Congress will keep CB if
Barry wins |
| 403 | Staff | DC Sells $657.8Million in Bonds, saved $17M by refinancing
older ones--$200M for schools, rest refinancing |
| 404 | Editor | Surplus Wisdom in
Maryland--Montgomery and Pr. George's both favoring prudence over flashy cuts |
| 405 | Editor | Yes to
Control Board Continuity--strong case to make Newman Chairman, keep Harlan, Ladner + 2
new |
| 408 | Vise | Newman Favored to Replace Brimmer--wide support growing
for 'behind-the-scenes' operator |
| 409 | LeDuc | Surplus Lets Maryland State
Speed up Tax Cut--new breaks for elderly, disabled, low wage earners |
| 415 | Vise | OMB
Raines' Resignation Raises Questions for DC--was key advisor on Control Board
Appointments |
| 415 | Editor | Franklin Raines's Departure: did a good job--for DC too.
Successor Jack Lew also a skilled professional |
| 416 | Editor | Maryland's Windfall
Year--emerges as national pace-setter--PG and MC offset 'Baltimore tilt' |
| 417 | Vise | Fed Budget
Chief to Focus on Control Bd Appointments--hopes to boil list down to about 10 before May
20 |
| 417 | Editor | New Fiscal Vision in Fairfax--new county executive finding
ways to stretch money, increase revenues |
| 418 | Moreno | Arlington Realty Tax Rises (1
cent) to $0.998/$100 as County Board Approves $586M budget--up 3.4% |
| 419 | Editor | Nix on
Control Board Politics: president should avoid party politics in appointing new
members |
| 419 | Silverman ltr | Keeping DC in the Black: structural problems could
erode DC's financial stability |
| 421 | Vise | Control Bd Hears Proposal to Cut
Workers' Comp, Unemployment--rates, duration way above MD,VA |
| 421 | Shear | Fairfax
Supervisors Approve $1.84B Budget, up 3.1%--prop tax rate stays at $1.23/$100 |
| 425 | Hsu/Melton | VA's Car-Tax Cut Ready to Roll--Gov Gilmore gets
unanimous vote for school construction too |
| 425 | Staff | Montgomery County Stays on
Top of Bond Ratings--AAA rating for 25th yr--only 5 others, incl Fairfax |
| 426 | Bolden ltr | Two
Bills for Building a Better DC: Nat'l Capital Revitalization Act and Tax Increment Finance
Act |
| 428 | Shear | Fairfax Leaves Tax Rate Alone--County Budget still allows for
modest catch-up spending |
| 429 | Staff | Harlan Refuses Second Term on
Control Board--held oversight of police department--had enough |
| 430 | Editor | DC
Spenders At It Again?--city not financially in clear yet--put foot down against big school
increases |
| 430 | Behr/Segal | DCTax Revision Comm Plan Would Have Lawyers Pay
1.5% Tax--DC personal services firms now exempt |
| MAY,
1998 |
|---|
| | |
| 501 | Vise | District
Reaches Consensus on ('99) Budget--plan would lay off hundreds in schools, boost education
funds |
| 502 | Editor | A DC Budget Without Chaos--new budget reaches high
water-mark in fiscal responsibility--but done in secret |
| 505 | Editor | White House Dawdling on
DC--has known for years new Control Bd members needed--quit wasting time |
| 505 | Staff | Chrmn
Cropp Confident Council Will OK Budget--$85M more for schools, $41 surplus, zero debt by
Y2000 |
| 506 | Vise | Norton Cautions Clinton on New Control Board--stressing
shifting power to city leaders part of new mission |
| 506 | Powell | $5.2B '99 DC Budget Passes
Council Unanimously with $90M more for schools--raises--FY99 debt only $41M |
| 506 | Vise | First
Lady Urges More Funds for DC--urges Congress to OK $100M for arts to support ec
development |
| 507 | Vise | President Wants Rivlin to Head Control Board--Sources Say Fed
Reserve Official Weighing Job-- |
| 507 | Editor | The White House Short
List--maybe Rivlin over Newman, + former elected official--go for professionals |
| 508 | Editor | Good
Work, DC Council--on passing budget--and not hamstringing schools--go for reforms, forget
schools |
| 508 | Vise | Widespread Support for Rivlin: Newman, Brimmer,
Cropp,Brownback, Moran, most Councilpersons |
| 509 | Behr | Firms Wary of Tax Plans from
Tax Commission and Business Coalition--but no opinions yet |
| 510 | Pyatt | How the
First Lady Could Really Help the City:support federal payments as Tax Comm
recommends |
| 513 | Vise | Rivlin Seeks to Keep Two on Control Board, Newman and
Ladner--to work towards restoring home rule |
| 519 | Editor | No Way To Treat the
City--White House still hasn't named new Control Board members--3 weeks to go. |
| 520 | Vise | Rivlin
Amendment on Fast Track--bill would let her run Control Board, stay on Fed
Reserve |
| 520 | Vise | Difficulties Filling Control Board slots: Lightfoot, Ray,
McKensie, Golden, say no; Ladner won't stay |
| 523 | Perez-Rivas | Montgomery Council
Backs More Tax Relief--something for everybody in $2.27B '99 budget |
| 523 | Editor | Control
Board Countdown--White House has not given Hill list of possibles--Faircloth balking at Rivlin
2-hats |
| 523 | Staff | Faircloth Letter Asks to Extend Control Board's Tenure from
June to September, avoid last minute 'chaos' |
| 523 | Pan | Prince George's Council Adopts
'Painless', $1.3B '99 budget--school system to get $844M of it |
| 528 | Loeb/Deane | Ire
Over Control Board: 41%approve/disapprove now; 44% want it less powerful,; 72% say not
permanent |
| 529 | Vise | DC Board Caps Term by Easing Business Rules: lower benefits;
relax reg, etc.--like business reforms |
| 530 | Vise | Brimmer's Term Extended 90
days--CMO fires 4 key aides: Wheelan, Pers,Hernon, Tech; Noonan, DPH, Watts,
DCRA |
| 530 | Editor | A Jerry-Built Control Board--still not formed: Rivlin to be
Chair, Robt Watkins, Vice Chair; Newman,Harlan temp |
| 531 | Falk | This is One
Tax that DC Lawyers Shouldn't Avoid--business activity tax of DCTRC is good
solution |
| JUNE, 1998 | |
|---|
| 604 | Woodlee | DC Auditor Questions ($20K) in ANC1A's
Spending--no documentation for 177 of 381 payments since '94 |
| 609 | Loeb/Vise | Barry
Picks Interim CFO (was deputy)--while national search undertaken for Williams
replacement |
| 610 | Behr | DC Professional Firms Hit Hardest In DC Tax
Revision Commision Plan--because they don't pay now |
| 611 | Vise | NC Senator
(Faircloth) Seeks to Clarify Control Bd Authority--after GAO challenge re delegating
power |
| 617 | Evans | DC Council OK's Convention Center Financing 8 to 5: $685M plan now goes to
Control Bd, Congress |
| 617 | Vise | DC Board Pay Moves Broke Law, GAO says--Reps
Davis, Taylor miffed Board didn't 'report to Congress' |
| 619 | Vise | Rep Taylor
Blasts $5.2B DC Budget Plan--criticizes higher $ on technology--to exercise 'exclusive
jurisdiction' |
| 620 | Vise | Rivlin Vows to Work for DC Home Rule at
Swearing-in--wants strong admin team in place to run city by itself |
| 621 | Swoboda | Janitors
Approve 5-yr contract--clean 70% of DC commercial offices--pay to rise to $8.50/hr.
|
| 623 | Perez-Rivas | Montgomery Council May Boost Tax Rebate from $27 to $50--due to higher
income tax receipts |
| JULY, 1998 |
|---|
| 710 | Behr | DC Hopes to
Streamline Regulatory Process--Control Board writing regs to carry out 171 orders
issued |
| 717 | Vise | Lawmakers Jockey over DC Budget Bill--Davis working with
Faircloth to bypass mecurial Taylor |
| 718 | Staff | Jarvis Upset by Planned Senate
(Faircloth) Repeal of DC-legislated Ec Development Corp: |
| 721 | Editor | A GOP DC
Budget Fiasco--Taylor at it again--delusional--House leadership should nip Taylor in
bud |
| 722 | Vise | Larger Surplus Projected for FY98 DC budget--up to $231M
based on better tax collection, economy |
| 722 | Vise (cont) | Senate Appns Committee
OKs DCFY99 budget--adds $ for Boystown, Powell, Mrs. Clinton, Historical
Society |
| 723 | Editor | DC Budget Halfway There--Senate approves $5.2B
appn--$231M surplus tempting new overpromising |
| 723 | Williams | DC Rescue Plan Praised,
Panned--Williams, Evans approve, Brazil Chavous say city hurt by power shift |
| 725 | Powell | House
Panel OKs DC Budget Appn Bill--adds $ for firemen, charter schls, cuts ANC $, top pay,
controls surplus |
| 727 | Editor | More DC Budget Woes--Taylor bill removes $ for abortion,
city rights to sue Congress for voting rights |
| 727 | Pyatt | Revitalization the Wrong Way
and the Wrong Price--calls DC Revitalization Corp Act naive, unrealistic |
| 730 | Vise | Constance
Neman Will Remain on DC Control Board as Vice Chairman, school oversight: Kinlow, Mans
next?? |
| 730 | Vise
(cont) | Mayor appoints 3 dept heads: Irish from Santa Cruz for DoES, Jordan from
St. Louis to DCRA, Peck to OTech |
| 731 | Vise | House Panel OKs Bigger DC
Budget--Moran/Davis add $ for metro station, charter schools, Lorton clean-up |
| 731 | Vise
(cont) | House Panel OKs Bigger DC Budget--both houses overrule
Norton/Taylor,repeal residency requirement |
| 731 | Staff | Convention Center Plan
Advances on Hill--Davis says Congress will give OK--boost jobs, morale,
revenues |
| AUGUST, 1998 |
|---|
| | |
| 801 | Editor | The Things They Do to DC--Appns Bill loaded
with trivia--even though its the DC's own money |
| 801 | Staff | Financing
Plan for Convention Center in DC Clears Congress--OK'd sale of $685M in bonds |
| 805 | Vise | Control
Board to Get 2 New Members--Eugene Kinlow from school bd; Darius Mans from World
Bank |
| 806 | Staff | Provisions Could Trigger Clinton DC Budget Bill Veto--adoptions, needle
exchanges, vouchers, etc. |
| 806 | Editor | The Control Board's Lineup--Kinlow, Mans,
Watkins, and Rivlin--picked by Norton--tall order ahead |
| 806 | Vise | Brimmer
Cancels $893K sole-source contract to Barnett friend now an 'interim DMO' at
$150/hr |
| 808 | Staff | Control Board Approves 2 Appointments--Jordan, DCRA from St. Louis, Irish,
DoES from Santa Cruz |
| 808 | Editor | Camille Barnett's Contract--CPO Fite takes
blame...CMO not involved--admitted mistake--all over? |
| 815 | Cottman | Evans
Swipes at William's Tax Proposal--says gross receipts tax will drive business out--(but only
above $1M?) |
| 828 | Vise | DC Now Projecting $302M FY98 Surplus--due to
better tax collection, economics--incl $175M mgmt reform$ |
| 828 | Vise (cont) | Brimmer Says DC Unmet Capital Needs Still a Pressing Problem--wants $450M in
FY99--not in Cong bills |
| 828 | Vise | Ex-Official Faults Barnett in His Firing: says he
was ousted for blocking $50M, no-bid (insider?) contract |
| 829 | Vise | DC IG Probes
Barnett's Dismissal of Offical who claims CMO consultant wanted sole-source to
insider |
| SEPTEMBER, 1998 |
|---|
| 901 | Staff | Rivlin Says
Board, Council Will Work Together to resolve regulatory, legislative reforms |
| 902 | Staff | Two New
Control Board Members (Kinlow and Mans) Sworn In, joining Newman, Watkins under
Rivlin |
| 903 | Behr | Business Leaders Seek More DC Tax Breaks--firms relocating
into 'enterprise zones' would benefit |
| 904 | Vise | Control Board Voids Consulting
Contract: FBI to review $ 1,587 in expense invoices of consultant |
| 909 | Editor | Another
Canceled Contract: evidence of more dubious billing in CMO's office--gotta get her house in
order |
| 911 | Staff | Norton Urges Senate to Approve FY99 DC
Budget--consideration delayed by proposed amendments |
| 911 | Vise | Rivlin Wants
More Home Rule--'detail stuff' back to city--too busy with Fed job--substd conditions continue
|
| 912 | Vise | DC Budget Unlikely to Pass This Month--city officials
concerned--Moran faults needless Cong reviews |
| OCTOBER,
1998 |
|---|
| 1003 | Lipton | Yr2000 Is Too Soon, DC Officials Say--more time, money needed for 75% of 336
computer systems |
| 1003 | Editorial | A City Caught in Congress's Web--DC gets
budget process in hand--Congress turn fiscally irresponsible |
| 1008 | Editor | Straight
Talk About DC--O'Cleireacain proposal deserves attn: spending growing faster than revenues
|
| 1012 | Pyatt | With Revenue Disappearing, DC Must Conjure Up Sense of Urgency--moving
away from sustainable rev strux |
| 1015 | Editor | Stuffing a Turkey--Congress displays dismissive,
terrible approach to its responsibilities re appns bill |
| 1015 | Vise | Control
Board Chief to Share Some Power--Director Hill to oversee Contracts, Budget--keep Rivlin
informed |
| 1016 | Editor | Big Deal:Omnibus appns bill covers 8 lesser
bills--IMF most important accomplishment--worst items gone |
| 1016 | Vise | Clinton Plan
to Tap DC Pension Fund to pay for education initiative Stirs Protest, but Davis says
OK |
| 1016 | Hager/Barr | Fed Budget Deal Reached: Key Programs
Get Hikes: Education, IMF, etc., no tax cut, no school bldgs |
| 1016 | Staff | DC Budget
Bill Bans Needle Exchange $--part of omnibus bill--adoption limits, kids cigarette crime
gone |
| 1017 | Staff | City Gets Added $125M from US (in omnibus bill) $50M,infrastrux repair; $25M,
EcDevCorp; $30M spec ed |
| 1018 | Editor | Budget Pawn--feds liquidate transfered DC
pension funds--may mean trouble later--look like new spending |
| 1022 | Eggen | Region
Reaps Billions in Fed Budget--'goodies' in everyone's stocking, says VA's Moran |
| 1027 | Editor | That
$6 Million (Booz-Allen) Contract--Control Bd must be held accountable using scarce DC
taxpayer $'s |
| NOVEMBER, 1998 | |
|---|
| 1110 | Vise | DC Tax Collectors Fired Amid Allegations--Office
of Tax and Revenue found $30K theft internally |
| 1112 | Behr/Hsu | An
Unexpected Windfall-With Strings Attached--pork $, plus instructions re needles, adoption,
etc. |
| 1117 | Vise | Report Faults DC Spending--Council (Patterson) says money for reforms
diverted--Control Bd says no |
| 1120 | Torry | DC to Sign Proposed Tobacco Deal, get $1.2B
(w/no strings) over 25 yrs--VA will join, MD not sure yet |
| 1121 | Torry/Schwartz | 46 States, DC Accept $206B Deal with Big Tobacco--Maryland and Virginia
included |
| 1123 | Pyatt | Argument to be Made (re fed payment)--and Right
People to Make it--O'Cleireacain/ businessmen , not Norton |
