Evening star., 1947-06-19
Budget
Continued From First Page.


you as a challenge" he said, land
as not only equitable but almost
mandatory. | would like to have
you help out on the Senate side
Mr.. Koran, whose earlier efforts
to include sales tax in the revenue
bill were beaten on the floor of the
House, told the citizens that only
one person out of eight In the Dis
trict bears the tax burden and
added:
| mo tax base is fair that does not
recognize that everybody should
contribute.
Congestion in Schools Cited.
The subcommittee chairman indi-
Gated that much of the increase in
the budget for next year would come
from eliminating oyercrowding and
part time classes in the public
schools.
At the same time, he warned
against assessing the cost OF prog
ress on property
Il believe it's safe to assume" ne
said, that property is paying about
as much as it can"
Turning his comments to the or
ganization of local government. Mr..
Koran said that until the people
have voice In their administration
two things must be done:
/. The authority of the Commits
sioners must be clarified.
2. Autonomous boards must be
progressively discarded.
Adequate School Funds Urged.
AS witnesses appealed for ade-
quate school funds. Mr. Horan told
the gathering he hoped the public
would know what the committee
faced in handling the school esti-
mates as a part of the entire city
budget.
we have to recognize these school
needs in comparison to other needs,
he emphasized. I'VE are as worried
about it as you are. 1t is a very
difficult thing to face We are go
ing to do everything we can. but it
is question as to whether we can
do it."
To give the crowded hearing room
a background picture of the city S
budget and the needs of all depart
ments, as well as the school system,
| Mr.. Horan had a detailed explana-
ton laid before them by two Of
/ f1cialS.
Walter L. Fowler, District budget
officer, explained that the District
budget for the next year shows
estimated obligations of more than
s98 ,O00, 600
S94, 100000 Prospective Income.
The total prospective income for
the city next year, he pointed out,
was more than $4,000, 900, even in
cluding an estimated income of
$13 $685. 900 from the proposed new
tax bill now pending in Congress
The city therefore, he warned, faces
an excess of estimates over avail
able income of 1898 900. His esti-
mates on the income from the new
tax bill excluded the OHara amend
ment, which, he said, would reduce
the expected income by about
81, 900, 900. This amendment, ex-
pected to be strongly opposed when
the District revenue bill, already
passed by the House, comes up for
debate on the Senate floor shortly.
1t would exempt from the income
tax Federal workers here who could
prove residence in other States.
A. w. Heinmiller in charge Of
business administration for the
school system, testified that the
whole school construction program
is being delayed by the rise in cost
of construction.
Malcolm T. Daniels of the Midway
Civic Association, told the commit
tee that based on the Board of Ed
ucation's. standards, the number of
additional teachers needed in Divi-
sions 10 to 13 would be 124. He also
pleaded for additional funds for
more school nurses. Mr.. Horan re-
piled that the principal difficulty in
that problem was the shortage of
nurses instead of the shortage of
funds.
Edward L. Merzereau, president
of the North Randle Community Citi-
zens Association, and Col. Archie
Edwards pleaded for funds to COM
plete the proposed addition to the
Kimball School serving that area