Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-14
3o,616,ooo in Expendi.
tures Listed by Donovan,
Commissioners Disclose.
PROJECTS T0TALING
s32,ooo,0oo OMITTED
Plan Predicated on Continuance Of
$l.70 Tax Rate and Annual U. S.
Fund of 100000.

Proposed major public improvements
involving an estimated total expendj.
''Ire OF more than $4,000, 900 have been
omitted from the comprehensive five
year financial program of Mai. Daniel
J. Donovan, District auditor and BUDGET
offcer, 1t was disclosed yesterday when
he Commissioners made it public.
Donovan's plan contemplates the ex-
penditure OF $3.50, SIG 900 over the f,ye.
year period, beginning with the 1880
hscal year, and sets up approximately
Sl6.400,000 of this amount for extra.
ordinary improvements, leaving a num-
Der OF other important projects to be
provided after the 1884 fiscal year.
The remaining $214,OOO 900 is calcu-
lated to meet the Districts operating
and maintenance expenses, with an
nual recurring betterments and i'm
provements, though the auditor has
allowed reasonable increase over current
appropriations for these items.
Outline" Of Budget.
The program, in reality. is an advance
outline of the Districts buaset for five
fiscal years and was drawn up to pre-
sent to the Commissioners a complete
picture of the financial requirements
curing these years and the means by
which the money is to be obtained.
Donovan predicted the plan on con-
tlnuance of the existing tax rate of
Sl.70 and the annual $4,000 900 contri-
button OF the Federal Government. but
the Commissioners, in statement given
out with the program, took particular
care TO stress that there is possibility
OF change in respect to both and that
Inc whole scheme, therefore, is neces-
sarily tentative.
The f1ve-year financial program pre-
pared by the auditor" said the state
ment of the Commissioners. lis a COM
prehensiye estimate of the probable in
ccme and disbursements of the Dis
tTict OF Columbia for the fiscal years
ending June 30, 1880 to 1884, inclusive.
The set up is likely To be very helpful
in visualizing the development Of the
needs of the District during the period
stated. and 1t Is contemplated that
such skeleton program will be con-
tinued and added to from year to year.
Based on Present Conditions.
THE program is properly based upon
present conditions as to tax rate and as
10 the present payment by the Federal
Government of $1,000 900 per annun1.
1t is recognized that the question of the
amount to be paid by the Federal Gov
ernment toward the maintenance and
development of the National Capital
is a live one; that it is being given ac-
tive consideration by Congress. and that
there is a possibility of change in re-
spect thereto. 1t is also possible that the
rate of taxation upon real and person.
al property may be changed. In receiv.
ing the recommendations Of the auditor
in this form and making them public,
the Commissioners desire clearly to
state that this program is necessarily
tentative and subject to change.
The Commissioners will be very glad
to receive suggestions from the public
in regard to this program"
Outstanding among the proposed
projects Donovan did not include in his
nrogram are the municipal airport. the
National Guard armory, the construc-
ton of a general administration build
ing in the municipal center to replace
the District Building, construction OF
approaches to the new Arlington.
Memorial Bridge, additions to the Gal
linger Hospital, extension Of the Dis
trict Supreme Court Building, new
building to replace the present District
iail. a sewage treatment works and sal.
ary increases for members Of the 20"
lice and Fire Departments. The pro-
gram also failed to provide for improve"
ment of the waterfront along the
washington Channel, the replacement
of several bridges, improvement OF The
approach to the Key Bridge and the
construction of a new Industrial Home
School
improvements Are Listed.
The improvements provided in the
program include the acquisition OF laad
for the municipal center and the erec-
ton thereon of the courts building as
the first unit, two high temperature
incinerators for the disposal OF refuse,
a tuberculosis sanitarium for children,
the construction of bathing pools on
beaches, the elimination Of the re-
naming grade crossings, the replacss
nlent of the Connecticut Avenue BridAs
over Klingle Valley and the Calvert
Street Bridge, the establishment Of a
farmers produce market, the expansion
of public library facilities, and the ex-
tension of public parks. The plan also
would commit the District to allowing
81. .400, 600 a year for the hve-year
period to the Board of Education for
the purchase of school sites. School
officials. however, recently have urged
that the school site fund be Increased
to $4,000, 900 year.
In building the five-year program
the coming fiscal year, for which funds
already have been appropriated, has
been used as the starting point because
Donovan believed the appropriations
carried In the appropriation act for
that year represent the most liberal
and best balanced Congress ever has
approved for the District.
Expenditures Are Given.
Although the appropriations for the
coming fiscal year total $4i ,525,l15, the
program calls for the expenditure Of
S44,965, 900, the difference to be made
up in supplemental items which Con-
gress is to be asked to approve, These
supplemental items are $2,500.000 for
the purchase Of the municipal center
site, $4,000 for the preparation Of
plans for the center, 5000, 900 for COM
mencing construction on the ChiIdren's
tuberculosis Sanitarium and S30Oeo0
for beginning work on the two high
temperature incinerators. st.
The largest appropriation over the
entire period. under the Donovan p,el.
would come IN the 1881 fiscal year. est :.
mates for which now are under pre-, .
aration at the District Buildirs ~
this year the auditor propos-s 10 2st !
S46, 6,552.000. The bndge.s in 'fhs . asr
fiscal wears covered IN tl1- pig ~. ~,