Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-16
The Budget Tangle.

The Budget Tangle.
Eliminating two millions from the
Commissioners estimated needs Of about
S48,O00,00O for the next fiscal year, the
Bureau of the Budget again lays down
a policy that In past years has restrict
ed the Commissioners in their recon-
mendations of how available revenue
can be spent, and has helped to create
an unnecessary surplus OF Idle money
in the Treasury without the compen-
sating relief to local taxpayers IN the
form of reduced tax rate.
The Budget Bureau is not in the habit
of offering extended explanations Of Its
policies. But in the case Of the District
the process of cutting down the Com
missioners' annual estimates Is evident
ly not based upon the hope of lessen
ing the local taxpayers burden, but
rests upon a difference of opinion be-
tween the Commissioners and the Bud
get Bureau over how best to speno
revenues that will be raised.
Last year this disagreement over
what items should go into the estimates
was not settled. The estimates went to
the Capitol calling for the expendl-
ture of less revenue than there was
available. The result was an additional
surplus, which the Commissioners this
year have taken into consideration IN
preparing their new estimates. But
these again have been pared down py
the Budget Bureau, and the Commits
sioners are again invited to submit
list Of supplementals to replace the
items eliminated. It Is to be hoped
that the Commissioners and the Budget
Bureau can reach an agreement, ano
that money available will be spent.
In 1928 Congress foresaw the possible
creation Of surplus revenues, but pro-
vided that such revenues should be con-
sidered available for expenditure the
wear following its creation. Congress
wrote into the appropriation act for
1923 the following provisions, which
doubtless will be given the considera-
ton by the Budget Bureau that they
deserve:
%" If, for any fiscal year after
June 80, 1927, the District of Columbia
should raise and deposit in the Treasury
to its credit as herein provided more
money derived from taxation, privileges
and other sources authorized herein
than may be necessary for the purposes
herein set out, such excuses shall be
the
discretion of the Commissioners, either
for the purpose of meeting the eX-
penses chargeable to the District OF CO.
lumbia or for the purpose of enabling
the Commissioners to fix lower rate
of taxation for the year following the
one in which said excess accrued than
they might otherwise be able to do"
q" and that hereafter the Com
missioners of the District OF Columbia
shall not be restricted in submitting to
the Bureau of the Budget their esti-
mate of the needs of the District, but
they shall, as near as may be, bring
them within the probable aggregate OF
the fixed proportionate appropriations to
be paid by the United States and the
District of Columbia"
That language is clear enough and
explicit enough to satisfy anybody. The
substitution by Congress OF the lump
sum for the fixed appropriation does
not alter the meaning. Congress did not
want the Commissioners restricted" IN
submitting their needs to the Budget
Bureau. But If the revenue exceeded
these needs, the result was to be a re-
duction of taxation, not another sur
plus.
It remains for the Commissioners and
the Budget Bureau, in fairness to the
taxpayers, to settle their differences
of opinion over how available money is
to be spent. If there can be no egree-
ment the only reasonable alternative is
a reduction in the tax rate.