Bates Area Civic Association

Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr.
* * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*  July 20, 2009
*Contact:*
Victoria A. Leonard
202.727.8204 (desk)
202.403.7866 (cell)
vleonardchambers@dccouncil.us

*Thomas Questions Executive’s Personnel Decisions in Revised FY2010 Budget /Letter to Chairman Gray Outlines Suggested Course of Action/*

*Washington, DC-* Ward 5 Councilmember Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr., in a July 20, 2009 letter to Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray, raised a number of concerns regarding the revised FY2010 Budget forwarded by the Executive to the Council of the District of Columbia late last week. The District’s FY2010 budget must be adjusted to eliminate a $150 million budget gap due to a decline in the city’s revenue estimates.

The Executive’s revised FY2010 budget retains numerous new managerial positions, some of which include signing bonuses, annual salaries exceeding $100,000, and have no District residency requirement. “I find it inconceivable that the Executive would continue to hire highly compensated, management-level employees who are not required to reside in the District while simultaneously preparing to release, through a Reduction-In-Force (RIF), hundreds of District residents who earn much less, but whose residency supports our tax base,” said Councilmember Thomas.

In his letter to Chairman Gray, Councilmember Thomas proposed the following for his colleagues’ consideration:
1. A freeze on new hires;
2. A review of all new hires within this calendar year; 3. A review of all bonuses paid or proposed to be paid this fiscal year and next;
4. Consideration of pay reductions for MSS employees exceeding $100,000 per annum; but who are under no requirement to reside in the District; and
5. Consideration of salary freezes for MSS employees exceeding $100,000.

“I urge all of us to work cooperatively as we evaluate our options for closing the budget gap. We must strive to maintain quality programs and services, and where we can, limit the impact on our residents,” said Councilmember Thomas.

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Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr. represents Ward 5 on the Council of the District of Columbia. Thomas chairs the Council’s Committee on Libraries, Parks, and Recreation. He sits on four additional committees: Workforce Development and the Environment, Aging and Community Affairs, Housing and Workforce Development, and Public Services and Consumer Affairs.

Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr. | Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW | Room 107 | Washington | DC | 20004