Evening star., 1933-10-16
DOUGLAS TO DECIDE
ION C|TY'S BUDGET
HEARINGS FOR 1885
D. C. Officials Await Word
From Director in Regard
to Estimates.
FIGURES FILED SATURDAY
WITH FEDERAL AGENCY
Sessions Expected to Be Brief as
Proposals Only Call for Con-
tinued Maintenance.

District officials today were awaiting
word from Budget Director Douglas as
to whether hearings will be held on the
estimates for the District during the
fiscal year 1885, which were filed with
the Federal agency Saturday.
While no instructions have been re-
ceived, it was anticipated that the hear
ings would be brief If the budget direc-
tor decides to call upon local officials
to support their request for appropria-
tions totaling S39 9,484,85815.
Brief Hearings Seen.
Local officials believe the hearings
if held, will be brief since the proposed
budget for the most part provides only
for continued maintenance in keeping
with instructions received from the
Budget Bureau.
The budget adopted by the Commits
sioners actually calls for appropriations
totaling some S2,70000 more than
stated in the original instructions re-
ceived from Director Douglas, who no
titled the District the total should be
limited to the total of the budget for
the fiscal year 1884. plus certain addi-
tions. including s3,750,o00 to allow for
restoration of the Is per cent cut in
Following receipt of this rule, how
ever. Douglas approved the use of the
surplus gasoline tax and water fund.
under authority contained in the 1884
appropriation act. Local officials there
fore believe they were correct in adding
these figures to the proposed 1885
budget total.
In his statement released yesterday
on the financial and budget conditions
of the District, Mai. Daniel j. Donovan,
| District auditor, voiced fears that an in
| crease in the real estate tax rate might
be necessary for the fiscal year 1886.
although the 1885 budget is predicated
| upon continuation of the present rate
| of S1.50. He explained further today,
| however, that this question would de-
pend to a large degree upon flnal de-
! cision by Congress as to what Is to be
| the Federal contribution to the cost OF
! District government operation during
| that year Mai. Donovan also pointed
out that the District at the forthcoming
| session of Congress will seek an amend
ment to the laws relating to the sale
of properties for non-payment OF taxes
II such an amendment Is passed, ne
/ said. the District likely would be able
| to collect much of a large amount OF
unpaid taxes which would serve 10 some
extent to Offset any need Tor an increase
| in the tax rate for 1886.
Liquor Taxes Predicted.
He pointed out also that the District
| NAV receive additional new revenues
| bv that time through taxes on the sale
of hard liquor in the District II Con-
gress leealizes consumption of it here.
The proposed 1885 budget, 1t was
stated TODAY. contains items for con-
| struction of a number of buildings Tor
which starting appropriations were
| made available under the 1884 appro-
! nriation act. These are the woodrow
Wilson Senior High School. the Browne,
Deal and the Powell Junior High
| schools, the contagious ward OF Cal
linger Municipal Hospital, and the new
| Calvert Street Bridge over ROCK Greek;
! Mai. Donovan today also annouiiceu
that tax rate reductions ehectlVe tnis
wear and contemplated to be continued
during the next fiscal year VIII eIaecs ee
| total saving to local taxpayers OF more
than S. 900 900. He said this comes
about through reduction in the tax
rate from Sl.7O to S1.50 for the fiscal
wears 1o34-35 on real estate, Tangible
personal property and the personal tax
on motor vehicles, plus reduction OF
$40 600 600 in the assessed value OF real
estate for this year. plus an expected
reduction of S50,000,O00 in assessed
values for the fiscal year 1895. Donovan
said also the 10 per cent discount on
water bills for the current fiscal year
and the proposed Is per cent discount
in 1895. together with the contemplated
increased metered allowance from $500
| cubic feet to 10000 cubic feet would
represent a total saving Of 100000 10
water consumers in the District.
| Meanwhile, James G. Yaden, presl-
dent of the Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations, voiced approval generally OF
the proposed 1885 budget as formulated
by the Commissioners. His statement
applied to the total of the budget figures,
but he said he could not now pass upon
| individual items since they have not
been made public in detail. Yaden
indicated the budget would be discussed
at the next melting of the federation
| November 4.