Evening star., 1934-10-21
D. c. BUDGET ASKS
BIGGER LUMP sum
$8,317,5W Contribution
Held Needed to Meet To-
tai of $4,000, 900.
Continued From First Page.)

TIOul d6C.J
is $s,146,427. For school buildings
and grounds the Commissioners seek
$l,110,000 as compared with $1,184,-
500 for the present fiscal year. Funds
sought for the purpose of school land
also were reduced.
The budget requests also apparently |
provide for restoration of the full use
of the thousands of street lights which |
were dimmed or cut off because of an
economy cut. The sum of 81 ,079, 700
is sought for the electrical department,
as compared with the $962,470 ap-
propriated for this year.
Hearings Start October 20.
Hearings on the budget are sched-
uled to start october 29. At that time
the Commissioners and Maj. Dono-
van, the budget officer of the District,
will be prepared to submit further
justification of their requests.
In an analysis of the budget and
financial conditions for next year, |
Maj. Donovan stated:
"It is estimated that the fiscal year
1885 will commence with a revenue
surplus from 1885 of 81 858,615.51. On
the basis of the present tax rate of
$3.50, and with a Federal obligation |
of only $5,70O,0OO, the total estimated
revenues Of the District of Columbia
for the fiscal year 1886. including the
revenue surplus of $685. 1851 brought !
over from the fiscal year 1885. would |
amount to $35 ,687.51, as against a re-
quired sum of S38, ,286,676 to meet the |
general fund items approved by the
Commissioners in their budget for
1896, with the addition to the budget |
items Of $l68,220 to take care OF the
appropriation (one-half) for Freed
mems Hospital and 100000 as the
estimated sum to provide for judg-
ments, settlement of claims, and
deficiencies.
$2,5S0,000 Deficit Seen.
ain other words, the tax rate of
$50. with Federal obligation of
only $5,700,0OO would fall short by
about s2,5SO,OOO of the sum which
would have to be raised should ap-
preparations be authorized for general
fund items in accordance with the
budget of the Commissioners.
THE Commissioners gave careful
and extended consideration as to the
manner in which additional revenues
could most equitably be obtained in
order to raise this additional sum Of
81, $50 900 to meet the payment Of the
general fund budget items as approved
by them. They decided that the exist
ing tax rate of $l.50 considered with
the present assessed valuation Of real
estate in the District of Columbia,
represented fair and just tax on the
owners Of such property, and in this
view they are supported by statements
made on the floor of the House of
Representatives by prominent men,
bers of the House when the District
appropriation act for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1884. was under
discussion. The chairman of the
House Committee on Appropriations
during that discussion made the fol-
lowing statement:
AS my colleague has said, the tax
rate is Sl.70 on the fair full valuation
of real estate. In my home State and
in yours, when property is assessed
for taxation purposes it is assessed at
about so per cent of its fair value and
taxes are paid on that amount Here
the property is assessed at full value
and the tax rate of S170 is paid on
the full value This is an exhorbitant
and unreasonable tax on real estate
in this District. There are thousands
Of poor people attempting to buy
homes in the District and for them
to be required to pay s3.40 per 500
in taxes on the valuation of these
homes according to the way property
would be assessed in other States of
the Union is too much.
Let me call attention further to
the fact that there is $4,0O0.OO0 in
delinquent taxes on real estate due
the District. On what character of
real estate? The little homes poor
people are trying to buy and pay for.
Wherever possible We should encour-
age people to buy and pay for homes
so they can have a castle of their
own. Then they will naturally be
proud Of their country.
1.-The tax rate in the District of
Columbia should be reduced from
$1.70 to $l50 on real estate.
I'm view of all the circumstances,
the Commissioners believe that the
fair and just course to follow to pro-
vide additional revenues to meet alb
solutely necessary operating expenses
and urgently necessary public i'm
provementS is to recommend an in
increase in the amount of the Fed
eral contribution. Following this
course, the Commissioners have pro-
vided In the District budget for 1886
Federal payment of $8,317 500.
which represents the average annual
amount Of the Federal payments
made toward District of Columbia