Gray Pushing to Repay DC Employees for Furloughs

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)DC Mayor Vincent Gray has submitted a supplemental budget that includes a proposal to repay District employees for unnecessary furlough days in 2010. In December of that year, it was estimated the District faced a $180 million shortfall for FY 2011, but when the books were closed there was a $240 million surplus. “I commend Mayor Gray for taking this step” said Metro Council President Jos Williams, “but it is just the first step. I am counting on the entire City Council to ensure that these workers are paid back for the unnecessary furlough days. Furthermore, I am calling on the Council not to pit the working men and women of the District against integral social services like the Housing Production Trust Fund by taking away social service funding to repay workers. A $240 million surplus is enough to repay DC employees for unnecessary furlough days without sacrificing desperately needed social services.” The City Council is expected to vote on the budget today.