As the D.C. Council begins the process of passing a budget for next year, many residents will be focused on the public safety section.
There have been several shootings in the District the past few days, while residents have been calling for more public safety measures the past several months.
In data compiled by 7News, total crime in D.C. has increased by 22% compared to the same time last year, with homicides increasing from 42 to 49 cases. Violent crime is down slightly.
After a recent shooting in his district, but before Mayor Muriel Bowser released her budget proposal, Councilmember Charles Allen told 7News he and his colleagues have already taken steps.
"On a local level, we've increased criminal penalties for ghost guns, for the types of guns we're seeing more and more frequently, high-capacity magazines. We’ve been able to pass laws to strengthen our accountability and our laws. We’ve got to make sure our laws are used,” Allen said.
The council will now begin to consider funding for public safety.
Bowser's budget includes $1.66 billion in the operating budget and $670 billion in the capital budget for public safety and justice, which includes funding for MPD and other public safety agencies.
The following programs will also receive funding:
- $7.7 million for violence interruption programs
- $6.7 million for grants for sexual assault victim services and other victim services
- $5.4 million for recruitment and conversion bonuses for new hires
- $1.2 million for educational incentives to be used in recruiting
The proposed budget also calls for allowing school resource officers back into schools.
Despite this funding, Allen told 7News there needs to be more help from outside the city.
"Certainly, we've got too many guns, plain and simple. I sure wish we'd see Congress take some action to help get these guns," Allen said. "We need federal gun legislation that stops the guns just flowing into our community.”
D.C. Council will hold budget hearings in March and April. They are expected to vote on a first reading May 16, before the second and final reading May 30.
You can find the budget proposal here.