Evening star., 1933-03-28
CITY HEADS ASSA|L
.. REVISED BUDGET
Declare Fund Cut Will Stop
{ Local Projects and In
crease Unemployment.
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(Continued From First Page)
reducing the tax rate on real and per-
sonal property As result, the Com
missioners would have authority to re-
duce taxes, under the power vested In
them in the act Of 1922.
Two Items Ignored.
The Budget Bureau made no provision
In the estimates for continued operation
of the two new high temperature in
Generators or asphalt testing laboratory
Of the Highway Department. These
three activities will necessarily have to
suspend operation on June 30.
The bureau did allow $1,250,000 for
emergency unemployment relief during
the coming fiscal year. but specifically
provided that the administrative ex-
penseS should not exceed per cent.
Under the previous appropriation acts
the limitation on administrative eX-
penses was fixed at 10 per cent.
No reduction was made by the Bu-
reau in the Sl000,000 item for the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning Com
mission to reimburse the Federal Gov
eminent for lands bought by the Com
mission for parks and Fairgrounds un-
be the third payment. There however,
is not single dollar provided for the
purchase of park lands in the coming
fiscal year.
S10,000,0O0 Surplus Seen.
The new budget. it was roughly esti-
mated, would force the District, unless
taxes are reduced. to pile up surplus
of approximately S10,000,000 by the
close of the 1884 fiscal year. The sur
plus would be made up Of revenues
which the Budget Bureau refused to
recommend for appropriation. GaSo-
line tax revenues, and unspent water
funds. which do not go into the gen.
surplus which the District cannot spend
until Congress grants authority.
A total budget Of $32 999, 700 In 1884,
1t was pointed out, would be the small
est on which the District has been
compelled to operate since the 1925
fiscal year. Since that time. the ap-
preparations were increased each year
to meet increasing expenses OF grow
ing city.
Budget Director Douglas explained
that the reduction in the Federal con-
tribution is approximately the same
percentage of reduction which the total
of the estimates for 1884 bear to the
total Of the same appropriations for
1888. In other words. the Budget Bu-
reau reduced the 1884 estimates 26.8
per cent under the 1888 appropriation
and applied this percentage to the ST.
775.000 Federal contribution for 1888,
which brings it down to the recon-
mended figure Of $5,700,000.
Schools and Streets Hard Hit.
Schools and streets were the items
hardest hit by the reductions, although
the Budget Bureau did not recommend
n single construction item that is not
already under contract. Proposed new
school construction thrown out includ-
ed the proposed new woodrow Wilson
senior high school in the Reno subdi-
vision, an addition to the Logan School
and additions to the Deal and Brown
junior high schools.
Funds for beginning construction Of
new bridge to replace the antiquated
Calvert Street Bridge also were elm
mated and substantial reductions were
made in items for the Department of
Traffic and Vehicles, the Playground
Department and the Public Library.
Because of the reduction in the library
estimates, DR.. George F. Bowerman.
librarian, announced that he would be
forced to close the Public Library sub
branches in Chevy Chase, Tenley and
Woodbridge. He said the cut also would
librarys services.
One of the largest cuts in the High
way Departments estimates were in
items for miscellaneous street repairs,
which were reduced from $250.000 to
$25,000. Street improvement to be paid
out of the gasoline tax fund likewise
were severely cut from $2,277, $50 to
Sl,237, 400.
Personal Service Reductions.
In the playground department, the
Item for maintenance and equipment
was cut $4,000 and the contingent
fund was reduced from $4,000 to $25,-
600.
A large portion of the total reduc-
ton is represented in the items for
personal services. which were cut
throughout the District government to
total Is per cent in accordance with
President Roosevelts economy program.
The original estimates which went to
Congress in January applied an 8 1-3
revised budget added 62-3 per cent
to make necessary Is per cent cut.
In addition. many reductions were
made for personal services which will
require the dismissal Of employees in
various departments. The departments
to be hardest hit in this respect include
the Highway Department, the building
inspectors office and the municipal
architects office
District officials also predicted that
because of the elimination of virtually
all new construction projects in the
coming fiscal year the Office and per-
sonnel of the municipal architect might
as we'll be abolished There are now
about 80 employees in the architects
Office, and if no work is found to keep
them busy, it was said the District
would have to dismiss them.
Relief Increase Allowed.