Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-14
COMPLETE BUDGET
ASKS S48,2OO,O()Q,
HIGHEST FOR D. c.
Maj. Donovan to Send As
Page Report to Bureau,
Explaining Estimates.
$4,000, 900 FOR SITE
OF MUNICIPAL CENTER
100000 to Begin Construction
of Courts Building Also
Provided For.

The tentative financial budget of the
District for the 1891 fiscal year, calling
for total of more than $48 200 600, the
largest in history, was completed yes
terday by Maj. Daniel J. Donovan. au-
ditor and budget oficer. It will be
transmitted to the Budget Bureau to-
morrow, accompanied by a 45-page re-
port containing a detailed list of the
new items which have contributed
largely to the unprecedented estimate
OF municipal expenditures.
Maj. Donovan prepared the supple
mentary report to present to the Budget
Bureau more concise and impressive
picture of contemplated public improve
ments than can be viSualized from the
VoluninouS but Skeletonized Book of Es-
Inmates. An explanation Of the juStifi-
cation for every improvement recon-
mended follows each Of the new items.
Two Outstanding Items.
Outstanding among the improvements
provided in the budget are items of
100000 to complete the purchase of
the site for the municipal center and
$500, 900 to begin the construction of
the Courts Building, the first unit to
be erected in the municipal group The
initial appropriation of $4,000 to ac-
ouire the land for the municipal center
was provided at the special session of
Congress, and District officials are now
negotiating for property in the area.
The court building, it is estimated,
will cost approximately IS 900 ,o00 It will
accommodate the Police, Juvenile and
Municipal Courts and the Office of the
recorder of deeds. Plans have been
made to locate 1t in the northwest cor
ner of the four-square area at John
Marshall place and Louisiana avenue
facing the present courthouse.
In its final form the tentative budget
is more than 100000 in excess Of the
SAB ,000,0 600 total originally fixed by the
Commissioners as the limit of expendi-
lures for the next fiscal year. The in
crease, 1t was said, is the result of
eleventh-hour requests of certain de-
partments for additional funds for i'm
provementS regarded as indispensable
The Commissioners recognized the ur-
sency Of these Improvements and made
provision for them, although they car
RED the budget beyond the previously
fixed maximum.
Support Assured Budget
The District, however, according to
the calculations of Donovan, can sup
port the record breaking budget on the
current S1.70 tax rate by dipping gen.
erously into the accumulated surplus
revenues to its credit In the United
states Treasury. In fact, the auditor
advised the Commissioners at the outset
of the matchmaking activities that the
limit could be fixed at $48 ,552, 900, and
there would still be left at the close of
the 1881 fiscal year a free cash operat-
ing fund of $2,521 900. He recommend
ed, however, that the 4S,552, 900 be not
exceeded.
One of the items represented in the
1ast-minute increases which swelled the
total budget above $48,000,00 is un-
derstood to be the $4,000 requested
several weeks ago by the new Public
Utilities Commission to increase its ac-
counting and engineering personnel.
The added employees are wanted to
permit closer check on the accounts
of the public utilities corporations.
The largest single item in the budget
Is $13,000,000 for the public schools.
The Board of Education asked for 3d.
100000, but In the general pruning of
the estimates OF all departments the
Commissioners trimmed of $750.0 900.
Proportionate reductions also were
made in the estimates of other depart
ments.
3s3,O56,SO5 is Requested.
The department heads requested APP
preparations amounting to $53,056, sos,
an increase of $11,416,390 over the ap-
preparations carried in the regular APP
preparation act for the current fiscal
year. A budget of this size, according
to Auditor Donovan, not only would ex-
coed the revenue to be available in
1881 by $1983,505. but also would
wipe out the Districts cash operating
fund.
Donovan estimated that the revenue
to be available in the next fiscal year
will total $51 ,073,000. of which $22,-
$4,000 will be produced by the tag on
real estate and tangible personal prop
erty. The tax on intangibles, he figured,
will yield $2750,000. while the tax on
public utilities. banks and loan aSSo-
Citations will produce an additional 81
$4,000. Other sums entering into his
calculations include the annual $9,000,-
900 lump sum contribution of the
Federal Government. $1,000 900 In mis-
cellaneous receipts, 1,600, 900 from the
tax on gasoline, $1,550,00o in water
revenues, $2,040,000 In special and trust
funds and $350,000 as the release of
cash reserve for unexpended balances.