D.C. CFO Says Paid-Leave Benefits Too Expensive As Proposed

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The District of Columbia's chief financial officer says a proposal to guarantee paid family leave to people who live and work in the city is too expensive.

The bill as written would provide the nation's most generous paid leave benefits to District residents. It would mandate 16 weeks of paid leave for the birth of a child, a medical condition or caring for a sick relative.

The proposal calls for a 1 percent payroll tax to pay for the benefit. Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey DeWitt said in prepared remarks to the D.C. Council on Thursday that such a tax wouldn't bring in enough money, and the District can't pay for shortfalls.

For the bill to become law, the CFO has to certify that it won't negatively affect the city's finances.

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