Evening star., 1943-12-01
Commissioners
Submit Record
District Budget
$66, ,431 Asked;
No Increase in
Taxes Called For
BY BAINBRIDGE CRIST.


The Commissioners today sub
mitted to the Budget Bureau a
consolidated budget of $685.
431-the biggest in District his
tory-for the fiscal year 1945. It
Is designed practically to COM
plete the repayment of current
debt obligations and calls for no
increase in revenue through tax
alton.
The budget, which seeks to con-
solidate all municipal charges in the
District Appropriation Act rather
than their being distributed in sew
eral bills as in the past, calls for q
net increase Of approximately ST.
100000 over the fiscal year 1914.
Walter L. Fowler, District budget
ofhcer. hailed "the re-arrangement
and consolidation of the annual ap-
preparation act as one of the most
progressive fiscal steps taken by the
District in half century," -
Sees Blind Spots Wiped Out.7
1T will directly reflect the presknt
organization of the District Govern
ment, and will group those functions
which are more or less closely re-
lated" Mr.. Fowler said. "It sepa-
rates operating expenses from capi-
tai outlay to facilitate the prompt
determination of the total sums al
located to each.
1T will wipe out the various blind
spots, such as Freedman's Hospital;
reimbursement of the Districts
share of the expenses of the Federal
courts, and similar items which do
not appear in the present District
act, but now have to be searched
for in other appropriations"
The new budget calls for a de-
crease Of s2,700,0O0 in payment Of
current debt obligations and the set
ting up of s3,40O,000 public works
fund for postwar projects or when
ever priorities permit the resump-
ton OF construction work. The
budget proposals would leave the
District owing less than 100000.
SO Million General Fund.
The 1945 budget calls for a general
fund OF s59,057,154, highway fund
OF S4,644 ,693 and water fund of $2,.
664 ,584 making total of s66 1865 ,431.
Although the 1914 Appropriation Act
called for only 55,494 999, it was
pointed out that this years act did
not include many items now in the
consolidated budget, such as over.
time and additional compensation,
Federal courts and Freedman's Hos
:. pital.
The estimate OF 81, SOC, 900 increase
is arrived at by subtracting the So
100000 investment fund-wfIich is
not actually an expenditure-from
the sc million total, and then COM
pairing it with all of the 1914 approp-
ration, including the regular District
budget and District items In other
bills, which brought the 1914 figures
to approximately 100000. This
figure includes expected deficiency
appropriations for this year.
The l945 budget calls for $500 900
for overtime and additional compen-
sation for classified employees in the
District service and for additional
compensation for school teachers,
policemen, flremen and other annual
District employees who are not in
classified positions. For the cur
rent fiscal year this item will have
. to be met by deficiency request.
S625,000 for U. S. Courts.
The item fer the United States
Courts for 1945 totals $625, ,0O0 In
the past this item has always been a
charge against the District revenues,
but for the last six years it has been
; included in the judiciary section Of
the United States budget. The
amount for Freedman's hospital,
s485, 900 for 1945, formerly was in
cluded in the Federal security sec
ton of the Federal budget.
To provide for promotion that ac-
crues to classified employees at def
mite intervals provided by law, the
commissioners have requested an in
crease of s240,000 and an increase
of 100000 for the civil service re-
tirement fund. There also has been
included an increase of $875 900 in
capital outlay for such items of con-
struction as new sewers, purchase
of school sites, and the installation
of new elevators in the District
; Building.
Although the recommended In
crease for the fiscal year 1945 over
1914 for the highway fund is $2,277,-
377, the actual increase can be re-
duced by s1,o59,000, the amount Of
the 1943 funds made available in
: 1914. Overtime amounts to $65, 900
lSee BUDGET. Page A-6l