Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-16
BUDGET APPEAL
SENT TO BUREAU
BY DISTRICT HEADS
Urgent Plea Made for Accept
ance of $48,315,627
Figure for 1881.
DONOVAN POINTS OUT
TAX RATE is UNCHANGED
Total Is $5,ooo,ooo Less Than
Amount Declared Necessary
by Department Heads.

Dy department HeaQS.
An earnest plea was made 10 the
Bureau of the Budget by the Commits
sioners today to approve without modi-
fication the Districts unprecedented
tentative financial budget for the 1881
fiscal year. The appeal was contained
in belated letter of tranSrnittal which
did not accompany the budgetary esti-
mates which were forwarded to the
Budget Bureau yesterday.
The letter, bearing the signature of
Maj Daniel j. Donovan, auditor and
budget officer, disclosed that the total
of the budget amounts to $48,3l5.627,
a reduction of more than 100000 in
the funds requested by the department
heads. 1t also laid particular emphasis
on the fact that while the budget is the
largest in history, the entire amount,
less the annual 100000 lump sum
contribution of the Federal Govern
ment, is to be paid from the general
revenue fund of the District and from
certain special and trust funds.
will Retain Tax Rate.
The maio portion of the letter pre-
scented picture of the financial con-
dition of the District, showing its abll-
ity to support the record breaking
puogeC On IHe eHlSlIlS DIV IaA Ivy
and the generous use OF the surplus
revenues to the credit of the District in
the United States Treasury.
This surplus at the beginning OF
the current fiscal year July l, together
with the cash fund, amounted to 3d.
347,06720, Donovan pointed, out by
reason of the appropriations authorized
and the estimated receipts in the next
IL months, the surplus probably Will
be reduced to $6,687, 1920 at the be-
ginning of the 1881 fiscal year July l
next.
Increase of $S,775,512.
THE Commissioners earnestly urge
the approval by the Budget Bureau OF
a total sum for the financial budget for
1881 equal to that contained in the
tentative budget" said Donovan's let
ter. And in this respect the fact
should be borne in mind that although
the amount recommended in the tenta-
tive budget-namely, $48, 315, 627-is the
largest budget total ever submitted for
the District of Columbia, the entire
amount, less the contribution of So
100000 by the United States, is to be
paid from the general revenue fund Of
the District of Columbia and from Ger
tain special and trust funds.
'"rhe appropriations for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1880, including
100000 appropriated at the recent
special session of Congress for begin
ming the purchase of site for the
municipal center, total $44. 540.115. The
tentative budget for 1881, therefore,
represents an increase over the 1880
appropriations of $3,775,5 l2."
Cut More Than S5,0OO,0O
Donovan explained that the Com
misSioners, in their study and review
of the estimates of heads of municipal
activities and activities not under their
administrative control, but whose ap-
preparations are payable from revenues
of the District, found it necessary to
cut more than 100000 from the
total of the estimates as submitted in
order to bring the amount which they
have approved for submission to the
Budget Bureau within q sum that
could be provided on the basis of con-
tinuing the $1.70 tax rate, and on the
assumption that there will be no
change in the existing policy of fiscal
relations between the Federal and Dis
trict government while at the same
time maintaining approximately So
100000 as a cash operating fund in
accordance with the provisions of the
act of June 90, 1922.
In preparing the budget" Donovan
said. "the Commissioners called, into
municipal departments to develop their
appropriation needs and to justify their
budget recommendations Tor the fiscal
year 1881. The tentative budget as
submitted TO the Budget Bureau rep
resents a most careful and painstaking
study of the amounts required by the
District of Columbia for the fiscal year
1881 for maintenance and operating ex-
penses and necessary public improve
ments."
Donovan pointed out that the $48,-
315,627 budget, apporloned as to reve-
nue. charges. is as follows:
General fund of the District, $4S ,418,737
Gasoline tax fund. .......... 100000
Water fund ................ 1,499,39O
Trust and special funds. .... 1887, 500
Total .$4s, 1852
Contains Three Statements.
The letter also contained three state
ments relating to the financial condl-
ton of the District. The first showed
the condition of the general fund, be-
ginning with the 1929 fiscal year and
covering the fiscal years 1880 and 1881.
The second showed the condition of the
gasoline tax fund covering the fiscal
years 1925 to 1881, inclusive, while the
third showed the condition OF the water
fund, beginning with. the 1927 FISCAL
year to and including the 1881 fiscal
year. $3.50,
In the statement for the coming ifs
cal year Donovan estimated the assess
ment of real estate and tangible per-
sonal property would prodlice 500, $685.
600 and the assessment on iptangibles
$2,75O,O00. The tax on public utilities,
banks, building associations, ETC., he es
timated, should yield $2,310,00O. The
miscellaneous revenue collections. ac-
cording to his estimate, will amount
to 100000. With the release of rev.
enue reserves for unexpended balances
of appropriations, the Federal Govern
ment's 100000 contribution and the
surplus of $6,687, 1920 at the begin
ming of the current fiscal year, he fig-
ured. the revenue available for the gen,
eral fund for the 1881 fiscal year would
amount to SAG, 435, 192 20.
The tentative budget charges against
this revenue availability are $48,315,,
627, less the gasoline tax, water ana
trust funds. amounting to $4.896.89O. re
ducing the general fund charges 10
S43.4I8,737. The free cash operating
fund at the close Of the 1881 hscai
year, according to the auditors calcu-
iations, should amount to $3,016, 455.2O.
No allowance was made, however. Tor
supplemental or deficiency appropria-
tions in the 1881 set-up. D
A