Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-08
$39,O)D,0DO BUDGET
URGED BY CITIZENS
Continuance of $1.70 Tax
Rate Is Endorsed by Ad-
viSory Council.

A budget for the 1929-30 fiscal year
of S39, 100000 and continuance of the
existing tax rate of s170 on taxable
real estate and tangible personal prop
erty was formally recommended to the
District Commissioners yesterday by
the Citizens Advisory Council
The councils recommendations we're
contained in 14-page report. based on
the conclusions reached after a hurried
study of the estimates of the depart
ment heads calling for appropriations
amounting to $46.538,082.
Items tctaling $6,446,826 we're deleted
from the departmental estimates. leav-
ing the budget total at $4,000 ass
The council, however, urged a fiat rate
of S39. 100000. pointing out that more
could have been deducted If the Com
nissioners had permitted additional
time for a canvass of the numerous
items listed by the department heads.
Report Is Presented.
The report was presented to Com
missioner Sidney F., Taliaferro by
James @. Yaden. chairman OF the
council, and William A. Roberts, re-
corder. who worked until o'clock yes
terday morning tipping the document in
order to have it at the District Building
before the deadline.
In letter of transmittal, the coun-
Gil said.
There is submitted herewith a state
ment of the recommendations of the
Citizens Advisory Council with respect
TO the budget for the fiscal year 1880.
The total amount Of $4,000 .256 is pro-
posed by the council as a maximum
which more time and opportunity for
consideration with the various depart
ment officials would have reduced some
what further
We are particularly inSistent that
the total should not be so large as to
make impossible the retention of tax
rate of $l.70. as we are agreed that the
above rate is the maximum that can be
collected without undue hardship in
view of the high assessment ratio in ef-
feet in the District of Columbia"
In the general report, the council
added.
THE council is fully aware of the
growing demands upon the revenues of
the District as a result of the steady
growth in population and the tendency
TO develop new areas in the outlying
territory. The latter factor. however
desirable 1t may be from the point of
view Of health and happiness of the
people, brings insistent demands for
paving. water and sewer extensions as
we'll as increased school facilities and
police and fire protection. A natural
increase in expenditures follows.
Federal Building Program.
"On the other hand the develonment
Of the Federal building program retires
from the total taxable property valuable
areas which are important sources of
revenue, while the structures themselves
increase the cost of maintenance of the
streets and public institutions III sur
rounding territory. New private con-
Struction cannot be expected to make
the phenomenal contributions TO the
total taxable property that 1t has in the
past few years.
1T is clear. therefore, that II an In
crease in the already high tax rate is to
be avoided The utmost caution must ex-
lst In the operation of the District gov
ernment and in the promotion OF lnl-
provementS. True economy viii be nee
essary even In the event that Congress
comes to the long delayed conclusion
that adjustment OF its fiscal relations
with the District Is imperative.
With these facts III mind, the coun-
Gil has felt 1t to be necessary 10 deal
closely with the recommendations OF
the department. heads. Although we
are cognizant of their superior knowl-
edge of the needs of their departments
ana greatly regret that the Commits
sioners did not see ut TO permit our
consultation with them IN this work,
Continued on Page ?, Column H.