Evening star., 1948-01-12
City Heads Estimates
More Than s. Million
Above This Years
Continued From First Page.)

level would be- but declared that
even the sales tax would not pro-
vide suff1cient funds to meet in
creased Government pay plus other
District requirements.
The proposal for a $500 across
the-board Government pay in
crease, applied to the District, would
raise city costs by an estimated
$s,500.e00, he said. A $1,000 fat
pay increase would double the
outlay. Either one, without new
revenue sources, he added, would
'just about break our financial
back" ,.'
The city budget officer voiced fiat
opposition to any further increase
in the tax rate on real and per-
sonal property. '"The 50 rate is
plenty high enough now, especially
in a city where the people have
no political rights" he said.
Oppose District Debt.
Mr.. Fowler also said he would
oppose having the District 60 into
debt to finance its needs, at least
until all persons living here and
henefting from District operations
are sharing In the cost. This had
reference to the present District
personal income tax from which
many residents escape, and to the
proposed sales tax which would tax
temporary as well as permanent
residents.
The Districts general fund for
the year beginning July was set
by the Commissioners at $86, ,810, ,583.
This included a cushion of 81 900, 900
allowed for deficiencies expected to
arise during the year.
TIE help finance this general fund
cost, the city heads counted on
81, 100000 Of unobligated balances
to be released as surplus at the end
of this fiscal year. They estimated
existing revenue sources would pro-
vide an additional $65 1874 900. The
Federal payment would add $11,-
100000 to the general fund, and the
proposed sales tax an extra $6,000,-
600 next year.
y 1llSCJ UllC Gl1Cy Plo-
posed to sell $2,826,583 of the re-
manning portion of the wartime in
vestment fund-leaving there only
$685., ,962 of the fund that once
totaled $4,000. 900.
Nine Millions for Highways.
The budget calls for 1949 outlay
Of $9,267 200 for highway fund pur-
poses. These include the costs the
Department of Vehicles and Traffic
and the Division of Trees and Park
ings as well as the Highway De-
partment. OF the total outlay,
$5,25000 would be for capital i'm
provements. The increased gasoline
tax and other highway fund sources
were estimated to produce next year
slightly in excess of the proposed
outlay.
To finance a proposed water fund
program for the new year totaling
6,387 900 the Commissioners found
they would have to sell $174,000
Of water fund securities. This
move would leave less than $S0ey-|
600 In this fund. The remainder
of the Water Department program
would be financed out Of regular
water revenues estimated at 81 4,463,-
600, the new water department
Federal payment of 1000, 900, plus
$750,000 In unappropriated surplus
and unohligated balances from the
old fiscal year. - 8
In explanation of the tightness
Of the Districts financial situation,
despite the all-time high budget
proposals, Budget Officer Fowler
said well over 100000 of the
outlays. beyond routine operations,
was due to mandatory" increases.
Mandatory Increases Listed.
He listed among mandatory" in
creases the fund of $4,335, 900 for
continuing school construction con-
tracts already ordered by Congress
and $415,000 for ordered improve
ments In the sanitation division.
Among other items over which
he said the Commissioners had no
control were operating expenses in
cluding within grade promotions,
1881 $50; increased cost OF patients
at st. Elizabeths Hospital, $685. 900;
civil service retirement and dis
ability fund increase, $502 900; and
the policemen and f1remen's relief
fund, upped by 100000.
Following is departmentalized
summary Of the budget recommen-