Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-23
Sum Is Approximately $780,
900 Less Than Suggest
ed by Donovan.
PARE DOWN ESTIMATES
OF MUNICIPAL HEADS
Requests Would Exceed Revenue
and Wipe Out Cash 0perat-
ing Fund.

The limitation on the Districts 1881
financial budget has been tentatively
fixed by the Commissioners at s45,-
100000, approximately 100000 less
than suggested by Mai. Daniel J. DON
ovan, auditor and budget officer, it was
learned today at the District Building.
The figure was decided on soon after
the Commissioners began consideration
of the estimates of the municipal de-
tions for 1881 would take more than
s53,000000 to provide. 1t is these es-
Inmates the Commissioners are pairing
down to form the District budget.
Mat. Donovan advised the Commits
sioners that the District could support
budget amounting to S4S $4,000 in
1881 by dipping generously into the
surplus revenues credited to the munich
pality in the Federal Treasury. but
pointed out that the funds requested
by the department heads totaling $751;
056.505 would exceed the revenue avail
ability for 1881 by S1,9S3,505, and en-
tirely wipe out the Districts cash OBJ
Grating fund A budget restricted to
$48.500 900, he explained. would leave
s2,50o.000 in the free cashing operat-
ing fund.
Changes Request for Funds.
The reduction in the auditors sue-
gested figure of $48,500,000 was done
by increasing by 100000 the amount to
be sought in the urgent deficiency bill
to be submitted to Congress in Decem-
Der for the acquisition of the site for
the municipal center and the erection
of two high temperature incinerators
for the destruction of combustible
refuse. In other words, the Commits
sioners intend to seek just as much
money for these two projects as origi-
nally contemplated, but to do it In an
other way, which in effect will transfer
the s500,000 from the 1881 budget to
the 1880 fiscal year, and maintain the
equilibrium of the expenses of the Dis
tr1ct government for the 1880 and 1881
fiscal year.
The estimated cost of the site for the
municipal center is $6,500,000, and it
has been planned originally to seek
100000 for the purchase of a por-
ton of 1t in the 1880 deficiency bill,
leaving the remaining S3.50o,000 to be
carried in the 1881 budget. The two
high temperature incinerators, it is
estimated, will cost $3.50, 600, $500, 900 Of
which, under the original plans would
have been sought in the 1880 deficiency
bill. and the balance of S350,000 to be
provided In the 1891 budget. Just how
the Commissioners intend to apportion
the 100000 additional to be included in
the deficiency bill between the two pro-
jects has not been revealed.
Make Progress With Budget.
Considerable progress has been made
by the Commissioners in the daily
budget making meetings which started
Monday. The estimates of all of the
administrative Offices and number of
trimmed down where reduction was
found necessary. These include the
budget requests of the executive office,
the plumbing inspection department.
the superintendent of the District
Building, the assessors Office, the license
bureau. the coroner's Office, the super
intedent of weights, measures and
markets, and the highway department.
It IS understood that the estimates Of
the highway department, which the
Commissioners considered in conference
with Capt. H. c. WhitehurSt, co-ordi-
nator, we're not materially affected by
the pruning process.
School Estimates Next Week.
The estimates of the Board of Educs-
ton, the largest individual group, will
not be reached before the early part of
next week, it was said. If the Com
misSioners find that a reduction is
necessary these estimates will be re-
turned to the school board for revision.
Included in the school estimates.
which exceed Sl3.000,000. are supple
mental items totaling Sl,10l 900. The
supplemental. however. were not SUBJ
mitted as additional school needs, but
for the purpose OF substitution in case
of necessity.
Before the Commissioners complete
the preparation of the tentative budget
they expect to receive recommendations
from the Citizens Advisory Council, the
Washington Chamber of Commerce.
Board of Trade and Merchants and
Manufacturers Association as to the
total the budget should carry as we'll as
the tax rate in the 1881 year. 1t is a
foregone conclusion, however, that all
of these organizations will not urge a
change in thes present tax rate of $40.
on which this Commissioners are predi-
eating the 1891 budget.