DC Government

The following was written by PoPville contributor David McAuley, founder of Short Articles about Long Meetings.

Photo by Mr.TinDC

“I’m ready to jump in next year,” said Emily Franc, after Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D/Waterfront Chair Andy Litsky expressed skepticism.

Emily Franc. Photo by David McAuley

Franc introduced herself to the ANC last night (January 8) as the “Anacostia Riverkeeper“, a title she holds as a leader of a non-governmental organization of the same name. She admitted elsewhere that her desire for a swimmable Anacostia next year was a “hope”, and not a solid prediction.
“We’re a year or two away from that,” she said. (more…)

The following was written by PoPville contributor David McAuley, founder of Short Articles about Long Meetings.

“We are trying to grow the universe of child care,” a DC education official told Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6E/Shaw at its regularly-scheduled meeting on January 2.

Toward that end, DC’s Office of Planning (OP) is initiating a change in zoning regulations which will remove it from the business of regulating child-care facilities, in the hope of streamlining the process for people who want to get into the business. The proposed change would leave the supervision of child-care establishments largely in the hands of the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). Eva Laguerre, Director of the License and Compliance Unit of OSSE’s Division of Early Learning, urged the ANC to write a letter in support of the change. She also urged members of the community to come out and testify in support of the measure at an upcoming hearing. (more…)

UPDATE from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer:

“Review of IRS Advisory on Prepayment of Real Property Taxes

Late on December 27, 2017, the IRS issued a news release in the form of an IRS Advisory, “Prepaid Property Taxes May be Deductible in 2017 If Assessed and Paid in 2017.” In short, the IRS Advisory states, “State or local law determines whether and when a property tax is assessed, which is generally when the taxpayer becomes liable for the property tax imposed.”

For the District of Columbia, real property taxes for Fiscal Year 2018 (October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018) are assessed, by law, as part of the approved budget approval process for the new fiscal year which begins October 1. At that time, the tax rate is set and the liability is established for all properties for the fiscal year. Taxpayers also received Notice of Proposed Assessments for Fiscal Year 2018 as of March 1, 2017. Taxpayers must make payments on or before March 31, 2018 and on or before September 15, 2018. The billings for the first half of the fiscal year will be sent no later than February 28, 2018 and for the second half of the fiscal year on or before August 15, 2018. The attached IRS Advisory provides two examples for when a taxpayer can and cannot deduct prepayment of these taxes in 2017. Based on a legal review by the Office of Tax and Revenue, the District falls under Example 1 which indicates taxpayers prepaying their 2018 tax bills in 2017 can deduct the tax payments on their 2017 tax return. Pursuant to the IRS Advisory, since the District both assessed properties and set real property tax liabilities in 2017, there is a basis, if a taxpayer chooses to prepay real property taxes by December 31, 2017, for the taxpayer to claim a deduction on his or her 2017 return.

The Office of Tax and Revenue continues to recommend that taxpayers consult with their own tax advisors before making any prepayments. They may also need to coordinate payments with their mortgage company.

How to Prepay Real Property Taxes (more…)

From DPW:

“Clarification: trees should be placed where your recyclables are regularly collected between Jan. 13 and Feb. 2. Curbside ONLY if that’s where your recyclables are normally collected.

With the holiday season coming to a close over the next several weeks, thousands of DC residents will be looking for an environmentally friendly way to dispose of their holiday trees and greenery. The DC Department of Public Works (DPW) is pleased to provide District residents with two easy options for having their cut holiday trees and greenery recycled (no artificial trees).

The first option is for residents to bring their trees and greenery, free of charge, to either of the District’s transfer stations. The Fort Totten Transfer Station is located at 4900 John F. McCormack Drive, NE, and the Benning Road Transfer Station is located at 3200 Benning Road, NE.

The second option (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user Ted Eytan

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Mayor Muriel Bowser today applauded the latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, which show Washington, DC’s population continued to climb in 2017. Newly released figures indicate the District of Columbia is quickly approaching 700,000 residents after a growth rate of 1.4 percent between July 1, 2016 and July 1, 2017 – ranking the District eighth in percent growth among the states. As of July 1, Census data estimated the District’s population to be 693,972.

“Washington, DC continues to attract new residents from around the region and across the globe. We are a city where people want to do business, raise a family, and age in place – a city committed to our residents and DC values,” said Mayor Bowser. “As we continue to grow, my Administration remains laser-focused on creating jobs, producing and preserving affordable housing, accelerating school reform, and building a safer, stronger DC.”

With an average monthly growth of 803 residents, the District should hit the 700,000 resident mark within the next few months, officials forecast.

The District added 9,636 people from July 1, 2016 to July 1, 2017. Population growth in the District during this year-long period was comprised by gains from net natural increase (i.e. births minus deaths) (4,293), followed by net international migration (4,160) and net domestic migration (1,152). More than 9,700 babies were born in the District during this period, continuing the increase in young children residing in Washington, DC.

The city continued to show positive population growth in the data released for all three broad age categories. Of the 9,636 new residents citywide, 0-17 year-olds accounted for 37 percent (+3,581 residents); 18-64 year-olds accounted for 45 percent (+4,368 residents) and persons 65 years and over accounted for 17.5 percent (+1,687 residents).

The District population has risen every year since 2006, and has soared by more than 100,000 people over the last decade. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user Erin

“Dear PoPville,

Even if DC lets you prepay your property taxes, would that pass muster under the GOP bill in order to claim your deduction for 2018 taxes paid in 2017? Looking to the PoPville community of accountants, realtors, and lawyers to weigh in.”

From the Mayor’s Office:

“After Congress passed tax reform legislation, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, and Chief Financial Officer Jeff DeWitt announced that District property owners can pre-pay their property taxes in preparation for the upcoming tax year. The tax reform legislation limits the amount of state and local income and real property taxes that individuals may deduct from their federal income tax, beginning in calendar year 2018. Under the new law, the amount that may be deducted is limited to $10,000 of the combined local income or sales taxes and real property taxes. (This applies only to taxpayers who itemize their income tax filings; taxpayers who do not itemize will get no tax benefit by paying early.)

To get the full benefit of that deduction in 2017, District property owners can pay their 2018 real property taxes in 2017. These payments must be received and recorded in calendar year 2017. The payments made will be credited to the calendar year 2018 real property tax obligation.

“Because of how hastily this tax reform legislation was created and passed, even its authors cannot fully explain all of the many ways it will hurt millions of hardworking Americans. One thing we do know, however, is that by limiting income and property tax deductions to $10,000, it will indeed raise taxes,” said Mayor Bowser. “Going forward, we plan to use every tool in our toolbox to protect Washingtonians from the negative impacts of this devastating legislation. With less than two weeks left in 2017, we will spread the word that one way Washingtonians can get the highest deduction possible is to pre-pay property taxes before the year ends.”

“Despite our efforts in the House and Senate, Republicans rammed through their corporate tax cut bill, without any hearings,” said Congresswoman Norton. “D.C. residents, who already pay the highest federal taxes per capita in the nation, without representation, should consult their tax advisor because prepaying their 2018 property taxes could help avoid being double taxed, at least for next year. If so, we count this as our first step against this tax bill. The next step will be holding Republicans accountable for their Christmas gift to corporations at the expense of hard-working Americans in the District and across the nation.”

The property tax payment can be made two ways: (more…)