Evening star., 1948-07-22
First Budget Requests
Total Is Million More
Than D. T.. Revenue
Estimates 'UnreoIistie,'
Fowler Says; City Heads
Put Lid on New Jobs

Preliminary budget requests
totaling $105, 900, 900 for the year
beginning next July have been
submitted to the Commissioners
by District department heads,
Budget Officer Walter L. Fowler
announced today.
The requests exceed by more than
$25 100000 the expected revenue in
the, general fund from which they
would be paid. They do not, how
ever. include the requests of the
Highway and Water Departments,
which are paid out of separate
funds.
Present estimates of expected
general fund revenue for the next
fiscal year are SIS. .235,000. This
includes an sl1,o00,o 900 Federal pay
ment.
Acting on the discrepancy. the
Commissioners at once clamped the
lid on all nonessential new jobs
and capital outlay expenditures.
Estimates Called "Unrealistic."
Mr.. Fowler declared in his COM
ments on the estimates that they
are "unrealistic" in view of the fact
that best available figures indicate
only the s79,000,000 will be avail
able for expenditure in the fiscal
year.
Further complicating the Dis
trict's fiscal plight was an an
nouncement by Mr.. Fowler that it
will face possible $4,000, 900 def.
cit in 1850 If pay raise should be
granted to District employees with
out Congress providing the revenue
to meet the raises.
The pay raises for 1949 would cost
$5,741 $50, and for all Of 1850 would
cost an additional $6,048,67O
II the pay raise is not granted,
the Districts 1850 deficit would be
So, 8,484, ,555. Mr.. Fowler said this
figure was reached by adding the
carried-over 1949 deficit of 81 ,629, ,912
to an anticipated 1850 deficit OF
$6,854,643 excluding pay raises.
Thus, Mr.. Fowler said, the June
30, 1850, deficit of $8,484,555, added
to the s11,79O,340 two-year costs of
the pay raises, presents the District
with a 1850 deficit of $50 0,2s4 1896.
Don't Realize Situation"
If the pay raise should be granted
in the special session next week the
Districts 1949 deficit will be in
creased from 81 1,629,912 to $7,371 ,582
by the estimated $5.741,6 $40 cost of
the pay raise for 1949.
In fiscal 1949, the department
heads submitted budget estimates
totaling S128,076,820 The final ap-
preparation for the general fund
was $80,804,841. Including the high
way and water funds, the budget
was more than 500, 900, 900.
In an order to all department
heads. the Commissioners pointed
out that the SIS, ,O00, 900 expenditures
figured is 5000, 900 less than the
$84, ,459,731 that was available for
expenditure in fiscal year 1919.
These people the department
heads just don't seem to realize
the situation we're in," Mr.. Fowler
The Commissioners last month
ordered all heads of departments to
submit their 1850 estimates early
and with the anticipated deficit in
mind. At that time the city heads
ordered the severest economy be
employed in the estimates. They
were submitted on July Is.
After studying the preliminary
estimates, the Commissioners today
took strong action to effect the econ
omies that the department heads
failed to employ.
In view Of the ''unrealistic" esti-
mates, Mr.. Fowler said, I'VE there
fore are confronted with the neces-
1cs.~-uCG1 H. z :