This paper presents proposals for improving the way the District of Columbia decides how to improve its public facilities and other infrastructure. It recommends a practical decision process that will help the District plan effectively for capital improvement, up-grade the condition, utilization, efficiency and attractiveness of its public assets, and maintain them in good repair. It argues for comprehensive capital planning and budgeting across all public agencies, including the District of Columbia Public Schools as well as the agencies that report directly to the mayor. The recommended process is designed to improve program coordination and maximize opportunities for joint use of facilities where practical and efficient. The first section of the paper describes some of the weaknesses of District practice with respect to facilities planning and capital budgeting in the past--weaknesses which highlight the case for strengthening the planning and capital budget processes. Then the authors turn to two important requirements for improving those processes--broadening their scope and improving the information on which they are based. Next they describe how the two major processes--Ten-Year Capital Plan and annual capital budget and financial plan--should work when they are fully up and running. Finally, since full implementation will take time, the authors address what should be done immediately to improve capital decision-making for the FY2006 budget cycle. [This report was produced in part by the Brookings Greater Washington Research Program.]