Evening star., 1948-05-19
Pay Boost Plan
.DeIaysDecisiion
On Sales Tax
Fiscal Group Puts OFF
Action Until Revenue
Needs Are Known
By Don S. Worren

1
Efforts were to be made today
to find out what Congress is
likely to do about a Government
pay raise, thereby furnishing a
guide to hoX much additional
revenue the District must have
to balance its 1948 budget.
Because of the payroll uncertainty
leaders Of the joint House-Senate
District Fiscal Subcommittee again
have delayed decision on the pro-
posed sales tax. A pay raise would
increase the city deficit by an
estimated 100000 to $4,000, 900.
| Meanwhile, an extensive survey is
planned of school facilities, with the
idea of consolidating in some schools
the pupils in structures now only
partly filled and turning vacant
buildings over to students now
housed in overcrowded buildings.
Bates Proposes Plan.
| The proposal was advanced by
Chairman Bates of the fiscal unit
Of the House District Committee
1t was indorsed late yesterday by
Chairman Cain of the Senate Dis
trict Fiscal Subcommittee and by
Senator Dworshak, member of
this group and chairman of the
Appropriations Subcommittee in
charge of the city budget.
This. plan is pointed to the future,
as the survey is estimated to take
as much as six months. 1t is
planned to insert sum in thel 1949
budget to cover the cost.
Presumably, some of the now un-
filled white schools would be con-
verted to use by colored pupils, al
though officials said they have no
specific plans in mind in advance of
survey studies.
Meeting Postponed.
A session of the fiscal group for
decision on revenue plans, scheduled
for today, has been postponed until
tomorrow, because of the pay raise
question. 1t is indicated there might
be further delay, unless there is
some clear guide as to Congressional
pay bill policies.
Mr.. Bates planned to confer today
with House leaders in the hopes of
finding the answer.
A longtime opponent of sales
taxes, he has planned a number of
deficit-reducing steps as means of
avoiding any substantial tax rise
in the fiscal year beginning July l.
But passage OF pay raise, he
agreed, would throw the burden
right on us to get the revenue"
Senator DWorshak said he is pre-
pared to order public hearings with
in a day after an agreement has
been reached on the city's revenue
problems. If this is attained tomor-
row, Senate budget hearings might
be started Friday, he said. They
will be brief, he promised, lasting
probably not more than two days.
Senate to Consider Changes.
The Commissioners are asking for
no changes at all in the House bill,
totaling $10l 1854 900. but there are
indications some substantial changes
may be considered on the Senate
side, as to added personnel requests
and amounts to be spent next year
for authorized construction projects.
Senator Dworshak said he could
see hopes of balancing the budget
without resort to tax increases if it
were not for the likelihood of a
Government pay raise. And If the
raise is approved, he sees the need
of a sales levy to fill the revenue
gap.
Board Of Trade and school board
proposals for borrowed funds seemed
logical, Senator Dworshak added,
if there is to be an extensive program
Of school construction and .other
large capital improvements.
Chairman Bates turned to the
findings of the educational commit
tee of the Board of Trade, in its
school survey, for support for his
plan for 'co-ordinated use" study.
Cites Enrolment Figures.
AS to junior and senior high
schools, he cited findings that. while
the total buildings involved have
stated capacity of 43.42l pupils,
actual enrollments are 35 1857. The
reports showed that for division l to
9, used by white students, the rated
capacity is 29,512, as against an
enrolment of 20,526. In division
10 to 13, used by colored students,
the reports show rated capacity
of 13909 as against enrollments
totaling 1881.
Mr.. Bates cited the cases of Gen.
trail and Roosevelt High Schools,
without proposing any final an
swers except to say there appeared
to be no reasons why pupils should
not be transferred from Central to
Roosevelt.
On this point there was no direct
proposal as to what other use might
be made of Central. 1t already has
been planned to move the Bell Vo-
cational School operations into Gen.
tral High.
The survey reports showed that
Central, with a capacity of 2,400
pupils, has 1.474 enrolled, including
veterans classes, but not yet count
ing more than 200 to come from the
Bell Vocational.
Roosevelt High has rated ca
pacity of 1872, with an enrolment
of GOT.
FY.D + LAWYER IaiIed