Evening star., 1941-09-14
DC. Budget Estimates
Total S64,82q,754;
Hearings Tomorrow
Figures to Be SIoshed
7 TO s Millions TO Come
Within Revenues

will be offered for discussion by
civic and business leaders at two
days of public hearings before the
District Commissioners, beginning
tomorrow at 10 am.
Releasing summary of the eSti-
mates yesterday after completing
their private hearings with depart
mental heads, the Commissioners
disclosed that the budget requests
are about Sl060OO00 higher than
the current years budget and eX-
ceed anticipated revenues by be-
tween S7.00OO0O and $8,000000.
Discussing the estimates. Commits
sioner j. Russell Young said that he
believed that. on the whole, the pro-
posed increases are justified in view
Of the enormous expansion Of the
city and the consequent increase in
demands on municipal services.
Faces Big Reduction.
II Wa admitted. however, that
the CITY heads would have to slash
between $7000,0OO and S8000000
from the estimates if the city is
to submit to Congress a balanced
under present tax laws and at pres
ent rates. Commissioner Young in
dicated that the Commissioners
want to finance next years budget
without raising present taxes or
asking for new taxes.
Although a detailed estimate of
anticipated revenues is not yet
available. a rough estimate placed
the sum around S57O00900, which is
based on the assumption that the
Federal Government provides So
100000, which is based on the as
sumption that the Federal Govern
ment provides S6,00O,OO0, the same
amount provided this year, toward
District government expenses.
Although the Commissioners
haven't yet cut the estimates, de-
laying this Job until after the public
hearings. Commissioner Young in
dicated that every department
would have to bear part of the cut.
But he said it was obvious that
many of the departments, particu-
larly the schools, police and fire
departments and other major agen-
cies. would need more money in the
l943 fiscal year than they have
this year because of the city'S eX-
pansion.
The budget summary was broken
down into three categOries. For the
general revenue fund, the largest
division. department heads esti-
mated they would need S54.541151,
which would be an increase Of So
432.249 over current general fund
appropriations.
School Increase Largest.
Estimates for the highway fund,
which includes Is per cent of the
police salaries. total S5,943.783.
reduction of S266,341 from current
appropriations. For the third fund.
the water service. needs were esti-
mated at S4344.820. a figure 81 ,460,-
740 higher than the present supply
bill carries.
Highlights Of the estimates of
the various departments include
big building program for the schools
whose budget called for S17,934,672
an increase of S3850,574 and the
largest single increase sought by
any department; a request for 25O
additional policemen and a new
police precinct; a 81 100000 item to
be used as a starter for an S18000,-
900 program to expedite develop
ment of the Districts recreational
system; an increase of more than
S837000 for relief purposes, includ-
ing funds for drafting plans for re-
building and expanding the Home
for the Aged and Infirm: S146,770
for improvement and expansion OF
the street lighting and fire alarm
systems; an increase of s420O0O in
the Health Department budget to
expand many existing services; eS-
tablish new ones and employ 176
additional workers: S228 900 to COM
plete the first unit of the new
central library and other funds to
place it in service in January, 1943.
More than 80 organizations have
notified the Commissioners they de-
sire to testify at the hearings which
start tomorrow.
A list of those who have sub
mitted their names as witnesses
and the organizations they repre-
sent follows:
DR.. E F. Harris, Federation OF
Civic Associations; George E. Ke-
neipp, keystone Automobile Club;
Harry S. Wender, Federation of Cit
liens Associations: A. j. DriScoll,
Mid-City Citizens Association:
Washington I. Cleveland, District
Motor Club of the American Auto
mobile Association: S. Jay Nc
Cathra. jr., District of Columbia
Congress of Parents and Teachers;
Julian A. Brylawski, District of Co
lumbia Traffic Council; Ernest
Henry. Petworth Citizens Associa-
ton; E. J. Read, Southeast Council
of Citizens Associations; Marvin
M. Mclean, Brookland Citizens AS
sociation; DR.. E. E. Richardson
Congress Heights Progressive Citi-
zens' Association; William P. Thom-
as. jr., National Gateway Citizens
Association; z. F. Ramsaur, North
east Boundary Citizens Association;
Elzie S. Hoffman, Barry Farm Citi-
zens' Association; the Rev. Harry
F. Porter, Southwest Citizens As
sociation.
Harold H. Lund, District of Co
lumbia tuberculosis Association;
Leonard L. Tucker, Friendship
Citizens Association; j. Louis
Gelbman, Congress Heights Cit
liens Association; Bernard T.
Dodder, Burroughs Citizens Asso-
ciation; Henry Austin, Bradbury
Heights Citizens Association; Will
liam H. Press, Washington Board
of Trade; Odetta O'Hara, Associa-
ton for Education of Handicapped
Shut-In Children; A. D. Calvert,
Lincoln Park Citizens Association;
Ringgold Hart, Merchants and
Manufacturers Association; Col.
Charles I. Stengle, cuStodial force,
Board of Education; Leon A. Ran
som, National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People;
Miss Eleanor Fowler Washington