Budget & Taxes

This bill temporarily exempts specific real properties owned by the Archdiocese of Washington and its affiliated parishes from property taxes, deed recordation fees, and deed transfer taxes in the District of Columbia. The exemption applies to 13 distinct church properties across the city, including the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle and various other Catholic churches, as long as they remain under the ownership of the Archbishop or the specified church corporations. By amending Chapter 10 of Title 47 of the District of Columbia Official Code, the legislation creates a new section that removes these financial obligations for the listed properties without affecting other real estate owners or tax systems. The measure is limited to a temporary period and does not establish a permanent tax exemption policy for religious organizations.

This resolution declares an emergency to stop a proposed contract with HME, Inc. that would have provided 18 fire pumpers to the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department. The bill blocks the contract because the Council believes purchasing equipment from a new vendor in such large quantities is risky and could disrupt budget planning and equipment maintenance schedules. The resolution relies on a 2020 report advising against bulk orders from unfamiliar manufacturers to avoid operational and financial strain. It uses emergency legislative procedures to ensure the contract is disapproved before it automatically becomes effective on March 28, 2026.

This bill amends the District of Columbia tax code to grant property, deed recordation, and transfer tax exemptions for specific real estate owned by the Archdiocese of Washington and its affiliated parishes. The legislation directly affects the Archdiocese and twelve named Catholic churches by exempting their designated properties from certain taxes under Chapters 9 and 11 of the DC Official Code. Each exemption applies to specific land parcels identified by square and lot numbers, with the tax relief contingent on continued ownership by the Archdiocese or its successor entities. The bill is structured as an emergency amendment to update existing tax exemption provisions for these religious properties.