The District of Columbia Council released its budget for fiscal 2026.
It would include $1 billion for the Washington Commanders stadium deal and would repeal Initiative 82, which has gradually increased the base wage for servers and other tipped workers. Mayor Muriel Bowser unveiled her budget proposal earlier this year, which also included funding for the football stadium and repealing I-82.
Council Chairman Phil Mendelson called the budget proposal a fair compromise.
While the budget includes the Commanders deal, in which the team will contribute nearly $2.7 billion and the city will fund about $1 billion, it does not approve it.
Council members recently moved their deadline to vote on the deal back. Bowser and the Commanders were pushing for the deal to be approved by Tuesday. A vote will now likely be held this fall.
Council members said they recognize the “once-in-a-generation opportunity the District has to redevelop the RFK campus and bring the Commanders back to their rightful home in the District. However, the Committee also recognizes that the Council needs more time to consider the proposed deal, which would commit the District to spending well above $1.0 billion over the coming decade.”
The budget would also repeal I-82, which was approved overwhelmingly by district residents in 2022. This would implement an $8 per hour tipped wage base, which is down from the current $10 per hour base employers are required to pay. The minimum wage for tipped workers would additionally rise to $20 per hour, and employers would need to make up the remaining $12 if employees do not make it in tips.
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The council budget also capped restaurant service fees at 10%.
The council is slated to vote on a new budget proposal Monday, and a final vote will be conducted in the next two weeks.