Fenty Administration Rolls Out FY2009 Children’s Budget

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Deputy Mayor for Education Victor Reinoso today rolled out the Fiscal Year 2009 Children’s Budget, a comprehensive summary of District’s spending for children and youth in the FY 2009 budget proposed recently by Mayor Fenty. Of the $9.5 billion proposed for the FY 2009 District budget, $2.9 billion, or 30 percent, is invested in programs dedicated to youth and children.

Despite an overall budget increase in FY 2009 of just 0.7 percent, the Children's Budget represents an overall increase in spending on children of 6.8 percent compared with FY 2008.  This includes $1.9 billion in funding for education, $900 million for health and human services, and $118 million in other sectors.

The FY 2009 Children’s Budget was developed through coordination by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education with numerous city agencies, including the Office of the City Administrator and the Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs, partners and stakeholders. The Children’s Budget has the following objectives:
•        Inform good decisionmaking;
•        Improve coordination and collaboration;
•        Increase transparency;
•        Invest in prevention; and
•        Increase informed public dialogue.

Children’s Budget Goals
The District of Columbia FY 2009 Children’s Budget reflects a comprehensive effort and investment plan for the District’s future.  The FY09 Children’s Budget contains the following six primary goals:
I.    Increase the number of DCPS pre-Kindergarten classrooms and replicating successful model programs
II.    An increase of over $40 million in funding at the school and classroom level for DCPS
a.    Includes the initial roll-out of the comprehensive staffing model to ensure that students have a comprehensive school program – art, music, librarians, physical education, and guidance counselors
III.    Targeted investments to improve children’s health and expand mental health services
IV.    Additional investments in athletics and fixing up our parks & recreation fields, and over $5 million more for summer youth employment
V.    Expanded services through CFSA to strengthen families by providing them with needed counseling and case management services
VI.    Investing in programs that provide jobs for youth after they leave high school and a commitment to Double the Number of students who attend and graduate from college
Most importantly, this budget has aligned city investments and resources around a coordinated approach to delivering services to the city’s youth.  Such collaboration will inform better decision-making, and with Interagency Collaboration and Services Integration Commission (ICSIC), a mechanism is in place to drive progress toward achieving the six citywide goals.  

Over the next year, results will be aggressively tracked to hold the District government agencies accountable for using city resources efficiently and effectively.  Ultimately, the Children’s Budget brings transparency to this overall strategy and highlights key initiatives and investments that will positively impact the lives of District youth.