Evening star., 1946-01-13
Operation Costs
Add Million
Budget
Expenses Expected
To Exceed Toxes
By ; Million
BY JOHN w. THOMPSON, JR.

Mere cost of maintenance is
chiefly responsible for the Districts
present fiscal sproblem.
District Budget office records show
that salaries and maintenance alone
have increased by s12,000,0O0 from
the fiscal year 1942-the Districts
last prewar budget-to the current
fiscal year 1916. OF this, So, ,64s ,o76 is
in salaraies and overtime.
They also show that these operat-
ing costs will exceed $4,000, 900 by
next July while taxes paid into the
General Fund are producing only
about $50,000,000 An actual deficit
is avoided by the Federal payment
Of 100000, which goes into the
General Fund. But District officials
point out that a completely solvent
city at least should be meeting op-
erataing expenses from tax income.
Imitation Causes Increase.
The more than $12,000,000 increase
since 1912 when the city was paying
out only s40,623, ,237 for salaries and
maintenance, according to Budget
Officer Walter L. Fowler, is the re-
suit of salary increases, overtime
and inflated prices for materials.
Operation of a 40-hour week has
been accomplished in some munic-
ipal units without much additional
expense, but in others, especially
those with 24-hour- -a-day institu-
tions and services. it has meant more
personnel and more overtime. Until
the fiscal year 1943 District en-
ployes did not receive any overtime.
This year overtime payments alone
will exceed 81 100000.
The number of District employees
has increased from about $4,000 in
1912 to about 1900, personnel rec
ords disclose.
District Heads Concerned.
The problem of these sharply ris-
Ing operating costs is causing grave
concern at the District Building be-
cause officials see no immediate end
In sight. In the matter of salaries
alone, an IL per cent increase is
under consideration for Federal
employees. If the Federal employees
receive this increase it undoubtedly
would be extended to District en-
ployes. Officials can see a time in
the near future when revenues from
local taxes and the Federal payment
of s6,100,000 will not meet the bill
Tor maintenance and salaries.
Taxes feeding the general fund
fn$ 1Ax,y ,t1l>
contributes nearly one-half, income
tax, personal property tax, in
heritance tax. corporation tax and
various fees for licenses.
Thus, when they 60 before Con-
gress next month to discuss the
s80,000,000 postwar budget soon to
be submitted by President Truman,
ways and means of getting more
money, with emphasis on a larger
Federal payment, are bound to oc-
cupy a priority spot on the agenda.
For single example of what is
happening to District expenses for
operating alone, the Health Depart
ment has number of 24-hour-a-
day establishments such as CALM
ger Hospital and Glenn Dale Sana-
torium. In 1912 these costs amounted
to S3,513 ,2l5. BY next July they will
reach S5,772,115, an increase of
$2,25s,940 or about 81 per cent. Gal
linger Hospital expenses alone in
creased from 81 1926 ,225 to 81, ,321 ,036.
Capital improvements authorized
this year amount to s6,414 400, which
actually is about $364,000 less than
that of 1912 In addition, the city is
armed with a $10,000,0Oo savings
fund to make up some of the build
ing halted by the war. But every
new building means added cost of
maintenance.