Evening star., 1949-09-26
'BudgetRequests
For DC. Total
S138,984,400
Second Highest Figure
Reflects Anticipation
Of More Revenue
By Horriet Griffiths


984,400 for the year beginning July
l were submitted to the Commits.
sioners today by District depart
ment heads in anticipation of q
1851 fiscal year bolstered by re-
turns from the city's new revenue
act.
The figure represents the sec.
ond highest total of requests in
the city's history. The record was
set by the 1949 fiscal need esti-
mates, which amounted to $143..
SS6 900.
The estimates for 1851 include
$33 ,407,781 for proposed new con-
struction and seek 1,768 new jobs
which would cost $4,895, 900.
Last year, when the Commis-
sioners instructed department
heads to employ the severest
economy in estimating their 1850
budget requirements, the esti-
mates totaled $12o,129, ,4o8. They
later were scaled down to $110,-
$4,000 and Congress approved
$1O2, ,764,447.
No "Austerity" Instructions.
This compared with $99.879, ,4S3
approved by Congress for the
previous year.
While no "austerity" instruc-
tions went to department heads
preparing these latest budget esti-
mates, the officials we're instructed
to submit only what each agency
felt it actually needed.
Budget Officer Walter L. Fowler
was not ready to make q state
ment on the amount Of revenue
which may be available for the
year to balance the estimates.
The city fiscal officers consider
it too early to predict with any
exactness the yield of the new
revenue act which went in effect
August l, including a 2 per cent
levy on sales.
Previous estimates have been,
however, that it will produce some
$16,940,000 this fiscal year and
$17,860,000 next year. The dis
crepancy lies in the fact that
some OF the taxes will have been
in effect only 10 or II months this
year. In addition, 1851 income
tax revenues viii be reduced by
about $1,400.000 by an increase
in the exemption.
l22 Million for General Fund.
The 1851 budget requests are
broken down as follows: General
fund. $122,911,621; highway fund,
$9,959, ITO. and water fund, So
10000. It includes $105,576,6lo
for operating expenses and $685.
407,781 for capital outlay.
The operating expense esti.
mates include $96,736, $40 for the
general fund; $4,959,77 for high
ways and $3,880,000 for water.
The highway and. water funds
are self supporting, from gasoline
taxes, vehicle registration and
license fees, water rents and other
income.
Capital outlay construction was
apportioned as follows: $26,174,78l
to the general fund; $4,000, 900 to
highways and $2,233,000 to the
Water Department.
Last year, when new construc-
ton was held to the barest mini.
mum, a total of $19,695 ,905 was
requested for capital outlay, and
SIS, ,142,550 was approved.
Drops in construction costs.
which some reports have put at
10 per cent in the last year, may
enable the District to get moro
for its money in the coming fiscal
period.
Pairing of Estimates Expected.
In his instructions to depart
mentS' heads preparing their 1851
budget requests, Mr.. Fowler called
their attention to the language
used by the Congressional Appro-
priation Committee in reporting
this years appropriation bill. It
was:
consideration should be given
to the application of the sum Of
approximately $5,000.000 in addi-
ton to the amount normally pro-
vided for needed capital improve
ments, such as schools, welfare
institutions, sewer projects and
others of high priority"
Mr.. Fowler noted that the needs
here are terrific" but the prob
lem was to stay within the income
available. 1t is expected the COM
missioners will pare the 1851 esti-
mates down to some extent after
the Bureau of the Budget and the
city budget officers estimate the
available revenue.
The Commissioners and the
budget officers will hold hearings
with the department heads be-
ginning Wednesday. Individual de-
partment budget estimates will be
made public beginning tomorrow.