Evening star., 1934-07-12
Capital Needs Piled Up by
Economy Program, Of
fiCialS Reveal.
CANNON STATEMENT
ON u. S. AID PLEASING
1885 Requests Far in Excess Of
$40,000,000 Expected by Off,
cials to Mark Progress.

The District budget for the next
fiscal year will have to be considerably
more than S35,5OO 900. the total for
the current fiscal year, If any prog
ress is to be made IN providing for
needs for capital improvements which
have piled up in the past several
years of the economy program, it was
stated authoritatively today at the
District Building.
Oh1cially, District officials could not
anticipate what would be the total
of the 1886 budget which will be
formulated next Fall after the Com
missioners have studied and revised
estimates 10 be submitted during the
Summer by department heads.
Cannon Statement Hailed.
The Commissioners however voiced
qualification over a statement of Rep
resentative Cannon that he believed
the House District Appropriations
Subcommittee would not seek to cut
the Federal share Of the expenses OF
the District In the next fiscal year be-
low SIS. 700 .00O
1t appears probable the requests
for appropriations TO be made by de-
partment heads will total far in
excess Of $40000.000 In past years
the Commissioners have found It
necessary to slash the estimates of
the department heads by as much
as 100000 before the official
budget of the Commissioners Is sent
to the Budget Bureau. II the Com
missioners seek appropriations to pro-
vide for some of the many needed
Improvements, 1t appears likely their
1886 budget will run closer to $40
600 900 than the total for the pres
ent fiscal year of s35, 100000.
Other improvements.
This is indicated by several fac
tors outside of the question of items
for schools, Libraries, bridges, and
other improvements recognized as
being needed which could not be
provided for in past budgets.
For instance, the 1885 appropria-
tion act. of itself, did not carry any
actual appropriation of $1,000, 900 for
restoration of 10 per cent of the
salaries of District employees, accom-
phshed by executive orders effective
early this Spring and on July !,
Neither does the District appropria-
ton act carry an appropriation OF
$500, 900 needed to take care of au-
tomato step-ups in pay OF police
men, firemen and teachers, during
the past three fiscal years. These ex-
penses are being paid out of District
revenues and must be allowed for
again in the 1896 budget. II President
Roosevelt next January authorizes
restoration of the last per cent OF
the Government pay cut, the District
budget must provide an additional
5000, 900 in 1886.
New Tax Source Possible.
The District already has been put
on notice that new source of local
taxation. or an increase in the Federal
contribution may be found to be
necessary for the fiscal year beginning
July l next. It was only by close
figuring that the Commissioners we're
able to continue the $3.50 real estate
tax rate for the present fiscal year,
according to statements made re-
Gently when the 1885 tax rate was set.
If the District Commissioners in
clude the Municipal Center project in
their next estimates they will have
very sympathetic and earnest support
from the House subcommittee han
ding the District appropriation bill"
Mr.. Cannon said today. The House
subcommittee chairman also said he
would not oppose a loan and grant
from the p. w. A. to start the work.