A Sound Fiscal Footing For D.C.: A Federal Responsibility

This paper by Carol O'Cleireacain and Alice Rivlin proposes that the federal government offset several fiscal handicaps that hinder the nation's capital by providing a continuing contribution to the budget of the city of Washington.

1 minute read

October 31, 2002, 9:00 AM PST

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


Great nations support great capital cities, but the United States has neglected Washington, D.C. This paper, co-authored by Carol O'Cleireacain and Alice M. Rivlin, proposes that the federal government support the District of Columbia by making a predictable annual contribution to the city's budget. The paper examines the arguments for such a payment, including the fiscal handicaps imposed on the District by its capital-city status and the fact that it is a city without a state. It explores alternative forms the contribution might take and ways taxpayers can be assured the money is well spent without impairing the ability of District citizens to govern themselves.

Thanks to Kurt Sommer

Thursday, October 31, 2002 in The Brookings Institution

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view image of strip mall in suburban Duncanville, Texas.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall

A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

7 hours ago - Parking Reform Network

Blue tarps covering tents set up by unhoused people along chain link fence on concrete sidewalk.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work

Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

July 6 - Next City

Aerial tram moving along cable in hilly area in Medellin, Colombia.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle

Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.

July 6 - InTransition Magazine