Evening star., 1947-01-29
Buck Sees Need
OF Higher Share
For D. {. Costs
District Chairman
Announces Support
For Fixed Formula

NtttsSauS@S S@FFS'A
For Fixed Formula
Convinced of the need of greatly
expanded city revenues Chairman
Buck of the Senate District Com
mittee has concluded there should
be a substantial rise in the size of
the Federal payment toward Ma
tional Capital costs.
He announced last night he would
the proposed adoption of a
fixed formula for annual adjust
ment of the Federal payment.
He said he, favored plan along
the lines proposed in the measure
sponsored by Senators O'Mahoney,
Democrat, of wyoming, and Over
ton, Democrat, of Louisiana. A
companion bill has been placed be-
fore the House by Representative
Hebert, Democrat, of Louisiana.
The O'Mahoney- -Overton -Hebert
plan is proposed only as partial
means of meeting the Districts
record breaking budget for the fiscal
year beginning July l. The Com
missioners care about to submit a
District tax program which would
place an added load of about $19,-
100000 on District taxpayers.
Becomes Convinced of Need.
The Federal payment question
and the new and increased taxes
are to be considered at joint hear
ings between the fiscal subcom-
mittees of the House and Senate
District Committees.
In the beginning of his career
as head of the Senate District
group Senator Buck, Republican, Of
Delaware, was not at once con-
vinced of the need of raising the
size of the Federal share of costs.
on the theory budget-saving might
keep the District out of the red"
After weeks of study of District
finances, however, he said he found
a need for increases in both the
Federal payment and tax revenues.
Added inspiration was gained yes
terday when, sitting as a member of
the Senate Civil Service Committee,
&lC 1CdlllCo O1ldb GllC otllUCu oIdGtS
this year is spending $4O0O0,o00 for
the care of the Indians. The Indian
Bureau, he also found, was asking
for a $5,000,000 increase for the next
fiscal year.
Undue Share on Taxpayers.
eff such an expenditure for the
Indian wards of the Nation is justi-
fed" said Senator Buck, It think
the United States could we'll afford
to pay an added $3,O0O,OO0 or $4,000
900 for the upkeep and development
of the Nations Capital"
Recalling his studies Of the
District United States financial
partnership, he said the Federal
Government owns so much of the
District area, which places it in a
tax-free status, it seemed clear the
taxpayers of the District have been
left to carry an undue share of the
bill.
He described the OMahoney-
Overflow -Hebert formula as a fair
approach to solution of the problem.
To this he added his conviction
that adoption of such formula,
which would raise the size of the
Federal payment from 100000
lump sum to nearly $12,0O0,0OO at
this time, still would not give the
District enough total revenue to
meet the municipal program the
Commissioners say is necessary.
There would still have to be in
creased taxes to carry out the Com
missioners' program" he said, "but
adoption of the formula plan would
reduce the burden by $3,0O0,000 or
81 100000"
Mcmillan Backs Formula.
There has been increased atten-
ton to the Federal payment issue
as the question of humping in
crease in taxes neared congressional
action. Representative Mcmillan,
Democrat, of South Carolina, former
chairman of the District Committee,
has declared his support of the
formula plan, and other members of
the House have promised sympa-
thetic consideration.
in the House would be the belief
District taxes are low, merely be-
cause the District real estate tax
rate of SITS per 500 of value is
lower than in some other cities.
On this point, those familiar with
the District situation stress that it
is a widespread practice. in other
Jurisdictions to place property as
sessments at but so per cent or less
Of fair market value, whereas in the
District, Congress requires assess
ments to be kept as close to full
market value as possible.
In the last several years, the Dis
trict did not jump property assess
ments in keeping with war-infated
sale prices, but just recently Tax
Assessor Edward A. Dent announced
increases totaling more than $780,
| 600 900, or about 13 Der cent overall.