E-government earns place in D.C. budget

Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony Williams' self- proclaimed "education budget"

would provide millions to connect schools to the Internet and includes money

for electronic government initiatives.

Williams' budget commits $4 million "to bring the Internet to every classroom,

lab and library" in the city's schools, and another $1 million to establish

a phone and voice mail link to teachers for a "homework hot line," so parents

can stay informed about what's happening in class.

The budget, which was announced Monday, also allocates $59 million for school

modernization and renovation, with a promise to next year nearly double

that amount to $100 million to continue the effort to renovate eight schools

a year for the next decade.

"Our children deserve to learn under roofs that don't leak, they deserve

high-tech classrooms, and they absolutely need a safe environment to learn,"

Williams said.

Williams also set aside $31 million to continue the city's e-government

initiatives.

"I'm committing $31 million to improve technology and create a virtual "e'

government, providing a wide range of online government services," he said.