Former D.C. Mayor Tony Williams has been named the chair of a new reform commission tasked with analyzing the District’s tax rates and coming up with “innovative” ideas for modifying rates as it sees fit. Council Chairman Kwame Brown made the announcement Tuesday.
Called the Tax Revision Commission, its responsiblities include:
· Analyzing the District’s current tax system revenue productivity and stability;
· Proposing innovative solutions for meeting the city’s revenue needs;
· Identify economic activities (beneficial or detrimental to the District);
· Identify unused and/or duplicative tax credits and tax abatements and recommend policy changes to maximize return for the District.
Brown also nominated commission members:
David Brunori, a public policy research professor at The George Washington University’s Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration;
Teresa Hinze, executive director of Community Tax Aid Inc.; and
Stefan Tucker, a partner at Venable and adjunct law professor at Georgetown University.
Mayor Vincent Gray nominated:
Ed Lazere, executive director, D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute;
Nicola Whiteman, vice president of government affairs for the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington;
Tracy Gordon, a fellow in the Brookings Institution’s Economic Studies Program;
Catherine Collins, distinguished professor and senior research associate at The George Washington University Institute of Public Policy; and
Pauline Schneider, partner and head of the Public Finance Group at Orrick, Herrington, and Sutcliffe.
