DC mayor proposes $13 billion budget that includes tax hikes

WASHINGTON (AP) — District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser has proposed a $12.9 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, including some tax increases.

Bowser says her proposal, delivered to the D.C. Council on Thursday, solves a $192 million budget gap.

The proposed budget includes a sale tax increase to 6 percent, up from 5.75 percent, and increases in parking and e-cigarette taxes.

The budget proposes to allocate $100 million to create and maintain affordable housing, $40 million for new family shelter options to replace the troubled D.C. General, and $106 million to the D.C. United stadium project. The proposal also would earmark $335 million over six years for the streetcar and $5 million to equip police officers with body cameras.

The budget proposal is a 2.5 percent increase over the current budget.