The Washington times., 1934-09-06
District Estimates
No Tax Increase


Announcement of the amounts which the heads
Of District government departments believe they will need
operate their offices in the coming fiscal year indicate
the difficult job which lies before Washington residents
and officials if there not to be serious increase IN
the tax rate
THE DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE ASKING FOR
APPROXIMATELY $50O00O00 FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR THIS COMPARES WITH APPROPRIATIONS
FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR OF APPROX
MATELY $35000y000, AN INCREASE OF $15,O00,O0O.
The figures submitted by the department heads are,
presumably the ideal estimates They apparently include
everything that the departmental chiefs believe would
be necessary to give the city perfect administration
with liberal provisions for extensions and improvements
They are the "asking figures"
AS against these requests the residents of the District
put forth the ncontroverbe fact that they cannot
pay the additional taxes which would be necessary if the
estimates to be converted into appropriations.
There s fortunately chance that the estimates as
they will be submitted by the Commissioners to the
Bureau of the Budget will carry anything like the
quests made by the Commissioners subordinates.
IN THE PAST THE DEPARTMENT HEADS GEN
ERALLY HAVE 'ASKED FOR THE MOON" IN SUB
MITTING THEIR FIRST FIGURES THERE IS NO
RECORDED INSTANCE OF THEIR EVER HAVING
RECEIVED WHAT THEY THOUGHT THEY
NEEDED.
It has been the custom in the past to cut off automatic
ally about ten fifteen million dollars for the prem-
mary estimates without any danger of starving the CITY,
In dealing with what seem to be the excessive estimates
of the department heads this year the residents of the
city, who must foot the BILL will have better opportu
nifty express their views than they have had in recent
years.
The Commissioners plan to hold public hearings the
estimates
With prior publication of the figures, the taxpayers
should have ample opportunity to study the estimates
They should be prepared to tell the Commissioners not
only whether they favor economy but how that
is to be effected
Citizens who intend to appear at the hearing will un
doubtey bear in mind that for several years the District
has been on a subsistence budget.
In recent years comparatively little money has been
expended here for capital improvements
This fact has resulted in the accumulation of number
Of projects which or later will have to be under
taken and which will call for rather large expenditures
WHETHER THE FISCAL. YEAR 1896 IS THE YEAR
TO LAUNCH UPON NEW PROGRAM OF BUILD
ING AND IMPROVEMENT IS MATTER UPON
WHICH THE COMMISSIONERS SHOULD BE GIVEN
THE VIEWS OF THE TAXPAYERS.
1t safe conclusion that the residents of the citv
do not now feel that they undertake to pay additional
taxes now or in the next few years.
Incomes in Washington have been curtailed for the
last few years. They are getting back toward normal
now and 1t is to be hoped that next year will see the
complete restoration of Government salaries
NEVERTHELESS, THE LOSSES WHICH WASH
1NGTON1ANS HAVE SUFFERED AND EVEN NOW
ARE SUFFERING ARE SUCH AS TO MAKE TT
HIGHLY DANGEROUS TO GIVE THEM LARGER
TAX BILLS.