(Washington, DC) – Today, as Mayor Muriel Bowser prepares to submit her Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal to the Council of the District of Columbia, she is calling on residents across all eight wards to help “run through the tape” by participating in the annual Budget Engagement Forums. Now in its twelfth year, the forums give residents the opportunity to share their values and priorities directly with the Mayor as she finalizes key funding decisions for the year ahead.
The first forum of 2026 will be a Senior Budget Engagement TeleTownhall on Wednesday, February 18. Two citywide, in-person forums will follow: one at Barry Farm Recreation Center on Saturday, February 21, and another at Dock 5 in Union Market on Thursday, February 26.
During each forum, residents will:
- Receive an overview of the District’s current budget environment.
- Hear directly from fellow residents about community priorities.
- Participate in small-group discussions about policy priorities
- Take part in a new interactive policy game designed to discuss ideas and priorities for FY27 investments.
These forums are an opportunity for residents to have a direct voice in decisions that impact schools, public safety, housing, health services, infrastructure, and other critical city priorities.
Upcoming Budget Engagement Forums:
Senior Budget Engagement TeleTownhall
- When: Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 11 am
- Call-in Number: 844-881-1314. Press “0” to ask a question. Watch parties will also take place at all Senior Centers.
- RSVP for the Senior Budget Engagement TeleTownhall
Budget Engagement Forum at Barry Farm Recreation Center
- When: Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 11:30 am
- Where: Barry Farm Recreation Center, 1230 Sumner Road SE
- RSVP for the Barry Farm Recreation Center Budget Engagement Forum
Budget Engagement Forum at Dock 5 in Union Market
- When: Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 5:30 pm
- Where: Dock 5 – Union Market, 1309 5th Street NE
- RSVP for the Dock 5 Budget Engagement Forum
Last year, more than 1,000 residents participated in the budget engagement process to offer ideas, identify community priorities, and help inform key funding decisions. Since launching the initiative in 2015, Mayor Bowser has hosted 36 forums and incorporated community feedback into funding decisions that have shaped investments across the city.
Residents can learn more about past budgets and register for all upcoming forums at budget.dc.gov.
Press interested in attending the events are asked to RSVP to [email protected].
The DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment will provide a live feed of this event. To view the event, visit mayor.dc.gov/live, tune in on Channel 16 (DCN), or watch on Mayor Bowser’s Facebook or X.
Mayor Bowser X: @MayorBowser
Mayor Bowser Instagram: @Mayor_Bowser
Mayor Bowser Bluesky: @MayorBowser
Mayor Bowser Facebook: facebook.com/MayorMurielBowser
Mayor Bowser YouTube: https://www.bit.ly/eomvideos
Mayor Bowser LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mayorbowser