The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-03-07
ESTIMATES FOR 1929-193O TOTAL
 OVER S2,5OO,O00
Exceed Revenues S4o3,. 08l .04 Correction
 Urged by Governor

In the biennial budget presented by the Treasury 10 the Legislature, estimated expenditures for the con- duct of the Government of Alaska for the next two years aggregate $2.50714914. The estimated reve- nues for the same period were plac- ed by the Treasurer at $2,O64 ,O67.5O, thus indicating surplus of expen- ditureS over income of $493, ,081.64
 The Territory's net cash balance on March of this year was $918,- 29l.57. Thus, if the Legislature should pass appropriations to meet in full the budget estimates the present Treasury surplus would shrink to a mere s425,20993 by the end of the biennium.
 Governor Wants Change
 It was probably with such a con- dition in mind that Governor Parks was considering when he brought, in his message to the Legislature, the need for a scientific budgetary system to the attention of Alaska s law makers. Under the existing statute the Treasurer is authorized to receive the estimates of the sev- eral departments for expenditures to be made by them during each biennial period and to make esti- mates of possible revenues, but there is no one with authority. to require a defense or explanation of any single estimate so made The Treasurer is, in fact, an avenue of communication between the de- partments and the Legislature and nothing else insofar as the budget is concerned.
 Commenting on this state of af- fairs the Governor told the Legis- lature: "This law should be made more effective and the budget of ficer. or preferably budget board, should be given authority to exer- else administrative control over the estimates for appropriations that are made by Territorial institutions and should submit to the Legisla- ture only those items which, in the opinion of the Board, are justified, otherwise a budget law is ineffect- i've and can serve no useful pur- pose"
 Worse Than No Law
 The Governor might have gone a step further in his analysis, it is contended It has been pointed out that if anything the present budget law puts the Legislature at a disadvantage because unless one is familiar with the procedure un- der which the budget is compiled the conclusion is almost necessar- fly reached that the estimates con- tained therein have the official approval of the administration, when as matter of fact no officer of the administration has any pow CT to express either approval or dis approval of any of the items.
 Schools Head List
 The most important item in the budget is that embracing estimates for the support of schools Of the $2,500,000 total, schools alone are asking for $,374,600 The cost of maintenance and conduct of the Territorys public school system is put at S945, ,000; the Alaska College ! at $402,500, and the cost of admin istration of the Department of Ed ucation at $27.600. Out of the figure given for the Alaska College the Federal Government contributes $170,000, leaving $232,0OO as the amount sought from the Territory
 Next in the order of costs to the Territory comes it's social welfare and relief program. During the next biennium it is estimated that this will cost for all purposes $40, 300, which is equivalent to about seven dollars for every man, woman and child living in Alaska Pensions will cost $193,800; the Pioneers Home, $l06,500; for the support of dependent children $60,000; for the relief of destitution and financial aid to the needy and indigent an- ether $40,O0o; and to provide for the rescue and relief of lost per- sons $l0000.
 Another charge of $33,000 can properly be made against this de- partment, inasmuch as the Treas urer is directed by law to purchase annually Federal Government bonds . in the amount of s4O000 to be set aside as a Pioneers Home Building Fund and during the next two years this will amount to s80.000. There was charge for s8,000 es- timated accrued interest during the biennium on bond holdings in the fund, which is available for e-investment.
 For the construction of roads and
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