Updated intel on FYs 2011 and 2012 budgets

OCA reports it is waiting for the revenue estimate coming out next week before the real work begins on making cuts in the FY 2011 budget.   While OCA staff are prepared to get into the nuts and bolts of making recommendations to Mayor Fenty, they are more than ready to work with Council Chairman Vince Gray and his staff to make decisions about cuts.

Gray has said numerous times that his plan for FY 2011 changes includes writing legislation and holding a public hearing before the City Council takes final action.   This twist in what would have been a fairly straightforward solution—albeit one-sided—will certainly politicize the cuts pitting Fenty's goals against those of the presumed new mayor, Vince Gray.

On the FY 2012 budget front, OCA staffers are suggesting that the 12 budget will be built on the FY 2011 cut budget—the total, not the specific funding amounts.   We will know more October 1 at the budget kickoff.