Schools, social services hit hard by D.C. budget cuts.

• Position: News Briefs - Brief Article

Facing a $323 million revenue shortfall, the D.C. Council passed a budget that will reduce funding for the D.C. public school system by about $30 million and cut about $54 million from social services. The budget also will raise taxes on alcohol, cigarettes, and real estate transactions, and will cancel a planned rollback in business taxes. The increased taxes close the shortfall by about $78 million. In order to placate school leaders, the D.C. Council signed a written agreement with the school system promising not to close schools or fire teachers...