Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-12-29
STATE BUDGET HIGHER
FOR NEXT B|ENN|UM
REQUESTS OF COLLEGES BOOST
TOTAL ABOVE $22,OOO,OOO
FOR 1919.

Legislative appropriations aggre-
eating more than $22,000,00. over
100000 more than for the current
biennium, are recommended by the
state board of finance in it's budget
of state expense, showing in detail
the financial needs of the various
state offices, departments and insti-
tutions for the coming biennium.
The major part of the increase is
in the amounts asked by the educa-
tional institutions upon which the
board makes no recommendations
The budget will be submitted to the
legislature as a basis for the biennial
appropriations.
In the recapitulation it is shown
that the general fund will require
$I,237,994 during the two years, be-
ginning April /. 1917, the special or
trust funds will need $8,775,831,
while the higher educational institu-
tions have asked for $4,379,885.
Adding to this the mill levy for the
public highway fund, amounting to
$1,815,5O9, the total reaches $22,-
209,17O. The highway appropria-
ton incidentally, is $362,557 less
than for the present biennium.
As against this figure the 1915 ap-
propriations show a total OF q little
more than $2O,141.291. The 1915
appropriation for the general fund
totaled $6,432,27O. while that for the
special funds totaled $S,691.655 and
that for the higher institutions of
learning $2S2s,399. The public high
way fund appropriation was $685.
oe6.
From this it will be seen that,
aside from an increase Of $SQ6,-
s74.19 in the general fund, the re-
mainder Of the 100000 asked
above the 1915 appropriations is due
to the additional amounts sought by
the higher institutions Of learning.
The board Of finance makes no rec
concentrations on these items. pass
inx the buck" to the legislature.
The boards report points out that
the concluding year Of Governor LIS
ter's first term finds balance Of $1.-
100000 in the general fund instead
Of the overdraft Of 100000 that con-
fronted him when he took office. Out
OF the balance now available the
board urges the legislature to take
up the normal school bonds. amount
ing to $206,024, and also the We
natchee bridge bonds, which call for
$4,000.
with the retirement Of these two
issues the state will be free OF any
bonded Indebtedness.
Although the board cut $612'O0o
from acquisitions for new buildings
by state institutions largely, the grand
total allowed for the general fund
shows an increase of $805,674.lS
over the total Of $6.432,270.15 ap-
propriated by the 1915 legislature for
the state expenditure from the gen.
eral fund Most of the state depart
ment heads asked for increases ana
few showed decreases. In a measure
most of the department increases
wre granted, which means Increased
salaries for various chief assistants
II the legislature is favorably In
clined to the recommendations made.
The board Of control cuts Its ex-
pense $45,000, decrease OF $36'ooo
IA made in the land commissioners
reouisitions and the tax commission
is $4,000 below the 1915 allowance
The governors Office requirements
show a cut of $500, and the whoie
biennial appropriation of $4,000 TOT
executive mansion maintenance Is
eliminated by the governors refusai
to occupy the mansion after April l.
He considers the amount entireiy
sufacient for the purpose, but de-
clines to submit any longer to the req
tape program that runs from the
state auditor to the attorney gener-
ais ONCE over items of mansion ex-
pense.
As a result Of the governors de-
termination to close the executive
mansion at the end Of the presen'
biennium the budget contains no rec
ommendation in regard to 1t. but
Treasurer Edward Meath. the othel
member of the board, will go before
the legislature and urge that an ap-
pronr,ation be made. He will also
ask that the law be changed SO as to
give the governor full charge ovel
the mansion maintenance fund, the
handling of which Is now vested III
the governor, auditor and treasurer