Budget Oversight Hearing for DGS and DPR – April 27, 2026

On April 27, 2026, the Committee on Facilities, chaired by Councilmember Janice Lewis George, held a budget oversight hearing for the Department of General Services (DGS) and the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). The hearing featured public witnesses only; government witnesses will testify on May 7, 2026. Key topics included equitable funding for charter schools, facilities conditions (HVAC, security, ADA compliance), DGS overspending and Sustainable Energy Trust Fund (SETF) transfers, composting and zero waste, youth programming and parks maintenance, and specific capital projects at Langdon Park, Chevy Chase Civic Core, and Eastern Market.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Charter School Funding Inequity: Multiple witnesses (Joshua McComas, Kristen Yokum, Marita Fleming, Rachel Johnson, Dr. Marco Clark, Justin Semenez, Megan Fowler) opposed the mayor's proposal to move $59.4 million in DCPS fixed costs from the UPSFF to DGS, arguing it would create a $9,675 per-student gap between DCPS and charter schools. They urged restoring the 3.1% annual facilities allotment increase and rejecting the freeze through FY2030.
• School Without Walls HVAC: Students Amira Bunn, Georgia Murphy, and Eleanor Westrum testified about persistent HVAC failures, black mold, and gas leaks, calling for a new system and an oversight mechanism. Chair Lewis George noted the school was not on the DGS HVAC watch list and committed to follow up.
• Senior Center Needs: Teresa Ann Smith described broken security doors, ADA violations, and gym equipment issues at Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center. Chair Lewis George promised to involve the Office of Disability Rights and DGS.
• DGS Overspending & SETF Sweeps: David Whitehead (Sierra Club) cited a DC Auditor report showing DGS overspent by $263 million and criticized the mayor's $10.5 million sweep from the SETF to pay DGS utility bills. Claire Mills and Laura Levinson warned that this jeopardizes $60 million in federal matching funds for energy programs (only $3 million spent so far) and delays net-zero compliance.
• Composting: David Whitehead and Susan Shore highlighted that DGS provides composting in only 5–6 public schools, despite DC code requiring universal composting. They urged the committee to explore the $5.6 million increase in DGS waste management budget to expand school composting.
• Land Bank & Public Bank: Leah Lake, Caroline Meyer, and Samuel Bonar (DC Community Wealth Builders) requested an FTE at DGS to update the 2019 land bank study and a BSA subtitle to remove legal barriers for a DC land bank and public bank, citing $1.5 billion in vacant city-owned land.
• Youth Programming & Curfews: Scott Goldstein (EmpowerEd) and Peggy Raymond (ACLU-DC) argued that DPR budget cuts (8.1% reduction, 14.8% staff cut) undermine youth safety and called for expanded late-night programming, transportation, and a shift from curfews to investment. Johnna Crump (law student) advocated for restoring 158.5 staff positions and modernizing rec centers.
• Langdon Park: Dolores Bushong, Lisa Brown, and Jeremiah Montague Jr. expressed frustration over DPR's plan to renovate rather than rebuild the community center, noting the loss of basketball and after-school spaces to a gymnastics program. They requested a new building with gym, computer lab, and senior space, and suggested redirecting funds from a proposed firehouse.
• Chevy Chase Civic Core: Michelle Wolin, Randy Speck, Andrea Rosen, and Cheryl Court debated the Rift Valley proposal. Some opposed the high-density housing and loss of green space; others urged approval of the original proposal (206 units, 1/3 deeply affordable) to deliver a new recreation center and library. Chair Lewis George noted confusion over why DEMPED reduced affordable units from 137 to 54.
• Mitchell Park & Gymnastics: Maya Kurumoto and Karen Gagliano requested resurfacing of the multi-purpose court at Mitchell Park, citing safety issues. Samantha Lubkin asked that the Langdon gymnastics program not be cut, as it serves competitive athletes.
• Eastern Market: Monty Edwards (MCAC) requested $10.3 million over six years for critical capital projects (hot water system, bollards, boilers) and raised concerns about the market's enterprise fund being swept to the general fund.
• Riggs LaSalle Rec Center: Tisha Cockrell listed numerous unmet maintenance needs: broken exercise equipment, senior room disarray, missing sunshade, and HVAC issues. Joy Taylor suggested cost savings by providing field maintenance equipment directly to schools rather than relying on DGS annual contracts.
• Parks Maintenance & Small Parks: Rachel Clark and Kelly Collins Choi (Casey Trees) highlighted the drastic reduction in the small parks capital budget (from $2M to $75,000) and urged funding for a park planning team, community stewardship pilots, and forest conservation. Katrina Owens (DC Scores) requested multi-year grants and warned that cuts to DPR grant funding threaten out-of-school programs.

Discussion Items

• Equitable School Funding: Chair Lewis George acknowledged the charter funding gap and said she is working with Chairman Mendelssohn on a solution. She questioned witnesses about the impacts of the UPSFF shift and facilities allotment freeze.
• HVAC Watch List: Chair Lewis George discovered School Without Walls was not on the public DGS HVAC watch list and committed to investigating systemic issues linking the old and new building systems.
• ADA Compliance & Communication: Chair Lewis George discussed with Teresa Smith and Laura Fuchs the need for urgent ADA fixes and better communication between DGS, DCPS, and school staff. She noted that a new work order category for ADA violations should prioritize repairs.
• SETF & Federal Match: Chair Lewis George pressed witnesses on the $60 million in federal matching funds expiring in 2029 and the need to restore SETF funding to avoid staff layoffs at DC SEU.
• DC Archives Funding: Neil Flanagan warned that funding gaps for the new archives facility risk inflation-driven cost increases (74% since 2018) and urged advancing capital funds to avoid further delays.
• Youth Programming & Curfew: Chair Lewis George asked Scott Goldstein and Peggy Raymond about permanent infrastructure for youth beyond one-time events; they emphasized multi-year grants, transportation, and youth input.
• Langdon Park Design: Chair Lewis George and Councilmember Parker (by video) committed to ensuring the Langdon Recreation Center project reflects community input, potentially delaying the project if necessary. They questioned DPR's lack of a gym and programming for non-gymnastics youth.
• Chevy Chase Civic Core: Chair Lewis George expressed confusion about the reduction in affordable housing units and said she would ask DEMPED for an explanation. Witnesses disagreed on the appropriate scale of development.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken during the public witness portion. The committee will hold a government witness hearing on May 7, 2026, where agency officials will answer questions.
• Written testimony deadline: May 11, 2026, at 5 p.m., with a preference for submission by May 7 to inform government questions.
• Chair Lewis George committed to:
  • Follow up on the HVAC watch list for School Without Walls.
  • Work with the Office of Disability Rights and DGS on ADA violations at Congress Heights Senior Center.
  • Explore restoring the 3.1% charter facilities allotment increase and returning the $59.4 million to the UPSFF.
  • Investigate DGS overspending and the SETF sweep with the Committee on the Whole.
  • Advocate for additional funding for the small parks capital budget and a park planning team.
  • Schedule a meeting with Joy Taylor and others to discuss field maintenance alternatives.
  • Coordinate with Councilmember Parker on Langdon Park and with Councilmember Allen on Eastern Market capital needs.
  • Ask DEMPED about the Chevy Chase affordable housing reduction.
• Councilmember Parker (via video) stated he will not allow the Langdon project to move forward in its current form and will fight for community priorities.