Councilmember Silverman Introduces Bill Creating New Education Tax Credit to Offset Deduction Cap

Posted by Ashley Fox on January 23, 2018 at 1:44 PM

*Download a two-page explainer of this bill here.

The legislation comes in response to the recently passed federal tax reform bill limiting District income and property tax deductions for residents at $10,000.

Today, D.C. Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) introduced legislation creating a new local income tax credit for donations to the District in support of public education. The District of Columbia Education Charitable Donations Act of 2018 would support District public schools and potentially help more than 100,000 income tax filers in the District avoid a new penalty from the Republican tax bill just signed into law.

”District residents will benefit from having an additional charitable deduction on their federal returns, and the District will benefit from the charitable donation to our schools,” Silverman said. “It’s a win-win for the District and smart progressive tax policy.”

Councilmember Silverman Statement on New Tax Credit for District Residents

Posted by Ashley Fox on January 23, 2018 at 10:39 AM

*Download a two-page explainer of this bill here.

Today, along with Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray, Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, and my at-large colleagues David Grosso, Robert White, and Anita Bonds, I am introducing the District of Columbia Education Charitable Donations Amendment Act of 2018.  The bill does two simple things, but it will have a big, positive economic impact on our residents and our city.

First, it creates a new fund for residents to donate to support our public schools. Second, it creates a new tax credit to incentivize donations to this fund. These two steps will both support public education in the District and potentially help more than a hundred thousand income tax filers in the District avoid a new penalty from the Republican tax bill just signed into law.

Newsletter: A Busy Start to 2018

Posted by Elissa Silverman on January 17, 2018 at 6:07 PM

Dear Resident,

Happy New Year! Welcome to the first update of 2018!

It’s been a busy two weeks so far, with several important issues needing immediate attention. I am very disturbed about the troubling findings from an investigation into DC school attendance and high school graduation rates. This critical assessment was triggered by outstanding accountability reporting from WAMU/NPR on the 2017 graduating class of Ballou, a DCPS high school that received a lot of press and praise from city officials for having every member of the senior class get into college.

As the initial findings make clear, the problem is not just at Ballou but at high schools across our city: Many students are truant or coming to school late regularly but still graduate, sometimes using “credit recovery” classes. As I learned in a December hearing on the matter, there are no regulations or rules around credit recovery. This needs to be addressed swifty. I see the impact in my position as chair of the Labor Committee: Our young people are not prepared to enter the world of work. Some still need help in reading and writing. Many more lack so-called “soft skills,” the essential skills that are important not only on the job but in life: showing up on time, being able to write and speak effectively, and knowing how to resolve conflict and be resilient. These basic habits are the obstacles to employment for many jobseekers in our city. These habits start in school.

Councilmember Silverman Statement on Bringing Transformative Public Financing System to the District

Posted by Ashley Fox on January 09, 2018 at 4:35 PM

WASHINGTON, DC – DC Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) today released the following statement after the DC Council unanimously passed the Fair Elections Amendment Act of 2017 on the first of two votes:

“I am thrilled that Fair Elections passed unanimously, and I look forward to it being funded and becoming an integral part of our electoral process. It is an investment in the health of our local democracy, and especially given our lack of statehood, I think this is a very prudent expenditure.

It is hard for many DC residents to take $500 or $1,000 out of a bank account to give to a candidate. But they might be able to take $25 or $50, and with that, they might be as influential as a current “maxed out” big money donor.

Another significant achievement of this bill is that qualified small donor contributors must be people—real living, breathing people—not anonymous LLCs. This was the will of more than 23,000 District voters who supported the 2012 ballot initiative, Initiative 70. We did not make the ballot in the end, but this bill is confirmation that the efforts were not in vain and voices were heard.

Important Tax Info from DC’s Chief Financial Officer

Posted by Elissa Silverman on December 22, 2017 at 2:13 PM

As some of you have read, the Republican tax bill limits the amount of state and local income and property tax deductions you can take on your federal income tax. According to the bill, starting in 2018 it will be capped at $10,000. The District's Office of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) estimates this could impact up to 16% of District filers. There have been articles in the press highlighting that one option to get the full benefit of the real property tax deduction, at least for one more year, is to pre-pay your 2018 property taxes before Dec. 31, 2017. Please consult a tax advisor (quickly) if you think this might be to your benefit.

The CFO has instructions on how to pre-pay your real property taxes here: https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/release/statement-prepayment-real-property-taxes

I, along with other Council members, have asked the Chief Financial Officer for a full analysis of the tax bill and how it will impact the District and its residents. Chief Financial Officer Jeff DeWitt informed us that his office is doing just that, and we can expect a full analysis a few weeks into the new year. Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions at esilverman@dccouncil.us or (202) 724-7772.

Elissa.

Newsletter: Happy Holidays!

Posted by Elissa Silverman on December 21, 2017 at 2:19 PM

Dear Resident,

Happy holidays! Whether you will be staying at home in DC or traveling to visit family or friends, I wish you a warm and peaceful holiday season as we close out 2017.

Given the harrowing year in national politics, it made our job at the local level even more critical to preserving democratic values and basic decency in our country.  It has been an honor to work on behalf of District residents to make our city, the nation’s capital, a model for the rest of the country in being a place of opportunity for all.

Of course, there is so much more to do. I will remain focused on three fundamental principles: honest, ethical decision-making; responsive and accountable governing; and making smart investments in economic development, including affordable housing and public education, that will have big returns in the long run.

Newsletter: Celebrate the Holidays with Me on Sunday!

Posted by Elissa Silverman on December 08, 2017 at 3:10 PM

Dear Resident,

What better way to enjoy the holiday spirit than with warm treats and delicious drinks to support a great cause? I hope you’ll join me and my staff this Sunday, December 10, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Compass Coffee Chinatown (650 F Street NW) to celebrate the holidays and give donations to Toys for Tots!

I’m thrilled to be partnering for our third year with Compass Coffee founders Harrison Suarez and Michael Haft, both former Marines, to give District families a helping hand with toys for the holidays. Stop by anytime for treats and hot drinks! If you are able, please bring an unwrapped child’s gift for our donation box too. You can find more details and let us know that you can make it with an RSVP here.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Strengthening the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP):

Councilmember Silverman Introduces Bill to Protect Vulnerable Residents from License Suspensions

Posted by Ashley Fox on December 05, 2017 at 5:21 PM

Earlier today, D.C. Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) introduced legislation to help low-income residents and working families with small, unpaid debts maintain their ability to live and work in the District. The Driver’s License Revocation Fairness Amendment Act of 2017 would end the city’s current practice of suspending driver’s licenses for failure to pay debts as low as $100 from parking tickets, traffic tickets, or certain court judgments.

“A recent study showed that nearly half of the individuals who have their licenses revoked lose their jobs as a result. Not to mention those who need a car for critical errands, like caring for seniors or children, but are often forced to risk a felony charge for driving without a license just to see after their families,” said Silverman.

Existing District law allows the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to suspend a person’s driver’s license for any unpaid government-issued ticket over $100, only reinstating the license once the bill is paid. This legislation aims to protect lower-income residents and working families who are not able to pay the ticket by setting income limits for license suspensions, reinstating licenses for eligible residents, and ending license suspensions as a tool for private debt collection.

Councilmember Silverman Introduces Bill to Strengthen Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program

Posted by Ashley Fox on December 05, 2017 at 1:23 PM

Today, D.C. Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) introduced legislation to enhance the Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP) by making life skills a centerpiece of the work experience, ensuring age-appropriate job placements, streamlining the application process, and reserving program slots for older youth who are not in school or working. It is part of her ongoing effort to create career pathways, build a future D.C. workforce that can meet the needs of our high-demand industries and small business employers, and build a strong pipeline for District residents into living wage careers.

“D.C.’s Summer Youth Employment Program has been the first job for generations of Washingtonians. It remains a seminal experience, and it has the potential to be one of the first and most influential opportunities to put our young people on a path to a successful career and a prosperous life,” said Silverman. “That was Mayor Barry’s vision, and this bill will help us fully realize that.”

As introduced, the Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program Enhancement Amendment Act of 2017 proposes strengthening the program in four major areas: soft skills training, age-appropriate site placements, pre-enrollment residency certifications, and program evaluation.

Newsletter: Bike Ride Saturday, Plus Big Legislative Updates!

Posted by Elissa Silverman on November 15, 2017 at 3:08 PM

Dear Resident,

First thing: Join me this Saturday morning to ride the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail! If you participated in last year’s Veterans Day bike ride, you know that fall is one of the most beautiful times to get some exercise and enjoy our urban outdoors! Like last year, we’ll be joined by the Washington Area Bicycle Association (WABA) and members of the Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC) to ride through the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and explore Bladensburg Waterfront Park! As long as the rain holds off, we’ll be leaving at 10:30 a.m. from the Capital Bikeshare station at 19th Street SE and East Capitol Street SE in front of RFK stadium. You can find more information and RSVP here. Fingers crossed that the 60-degree forecast holds! Thanks to Ashley Fox in my office, WABA, and our office’s BAC member, Jeff Johnson, for coordinating the ride.

On to other athletic feats: Baseball season is over, but you might not know that DC brought home a championship! This month I had the privilege of presenting a ceremonial resolution to DC Force, the Washington area’s first all-girls baseball team, and their coach, to celebrate their recent success at this year’s Girls Baseball National Championship. Members of the 11u team came in fourth place, and members of the 13u team took the title of 2017 Girls Baseball National Champions!