WASHINGTON – Not every D.C. Council member likes the budget unveiled by Mayor Vince Gray Friday, but councilman Tommy Wells is showing some strong support for it.

“This budget that Vince Gray has submitted really seems to be not only balanced, but balance in the burden, so that we can have a great city,” says Wells (D-Ward 6).

The budget cuts $113 million from social service programs and has $127 million in tax increases. Councilman Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) has called it one of the worst budgets he’s ever seen.

Wells says the budget shares the burden across the city, from cutting public safety to raising taxes on those that make at least $200,000 a year.

“You know, we’ve taken some very serious budget cuts over the past two to three years, and the burden has not been shared.”

Wells says he and his wife haven’t been asked to pay extra in past years, while services to the disabled and foster care have been cut.

He is concerned about one thing. Gray’s plan to increase the fare for the Circulator bus from $1 to $2.

“I’m not sure that’s the right thing to do, I’m not sure that the Circulator should cost more than the [Metro] bus,” says Wells.

WTOP’s Veronica Robinson contributed to this report.

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