Evening star., 1949-09-28
Big Building Program
Asked in $1S,673,020.
D. f. Welfare Budoet|

D. {. Welfare Budget
A $2,2s7.0o0 construction pro-
gram to launch widespread ex-
pansion of protective agency serv-
stces highlighted the District Wei
fare Departments $1S,673, ,020|
budget estimate for fiscal 1851
submitted to the Commissioners
today.
Welfare Director John w.
Tramburg's estimated expendi-
lures for the next fiscal year ex-
coed the current appropriation by
more than $4,500,0
Mr.. Tramburg, who strictly OBJ
served the Commissioners auster-
ity order against new construction
and services last year, today
presented a budget request calling
for what is probably the biggest
building program in Welfare De-
partment history.
Projects Sought.
These are the projects the Com
missioners were asked to approve:
81 900, ,000-For beginning con-
struction Of an infirmary building
and laundry at the Home for the
! Aged and 1nfirm at Blue Plains, of
which an additional SIS, 200 would
be available for plans and specifi-
cations. The total cost Of the prof.
ect would not exceed $4,000, 900.
$3.50. .000-For beginning con-
struction Of buildings to comprise
q new Industrial Home School for
white boys and girls on the site of
the District Training School at
Laurel. plus an additional $38, 900
for plans. Total not to exceed
$4,000
5000, ,000-For beginning con-
struction Of buildings to comprise
. new National Training School
for Girls on the site of jolly Acres,
of which $61, $50 would be avail
able for plans and specifications.
Total cost not to exceed 81, ,750. 600.
$3.50. .0o0-for, beginning con-
struction Of a detention dormitory
ut the District Training School,
with improvements to the grounds
and the limit Of cost increased to
$3.50. 900.
New Heating Plant.
$500, ,000-for beginning con-
struction Of q new heating plant,
sewage and water facilities at the
District Training School, of which
$4,000 would be available for
plans and specifications. at a total
cost not to exceed $1,240,00o.
$187, ,000-for construction of al
new central kitchen at the Indus
trial Home School for Colored
Boys.
The largest request in the esti-
mates. as usual. is the amount
needed to care for the Districts |
INDECENT insane at st. Elizabeths
Hospital, a Federal Security
Agency institution. This year, the
Welfare Department estimated
the District will have paid about
$7.612.622 for this care. In his
1851 budget estimates, Mr.. Tram
burg asked for $7,838, TAO based on
the per diem cost rate set by the
Federal Budget Bureau. $4.13 per
patient.
The District will be liable for
an average daily population at
st. Elizabeths Of $3.50 in the next
fiscal year as compared with $500
this year.
The departments estimate is
broken into six parts as follows:
$106,700 for general administra-
tion, $5.388,017 for the agency
services. $3,052,563 for the pro-
tective agencies, $2,289. 900 for
construction and the $7,838,74o
for st. Elizabeths.
Agency Services Items.
The agency services, individu-
ally, estimated their 1851 needs
as follows: Public Assistance
Division. $3,s47 ,so5; Child We'll
fare Division. 1922, ,40S; Inter-
state Services, $56.657: the Penny
Milk and Food Conservation pro-
gram. $133,047 and the Inde-
pendent agencies, $4,000.
In addition to the $5,388,017
asked the various agency services,
Mr.. Tramburg estimated the Dis
trict will receive $2,313.5s9 as re-
imbusement for public assistance
under the Federal Social Security
program. This reimbursement is
paid under q complicated formula
by which the District receives half
OF the money it must pay for old
age assistance and aid to the needy
blind and one-third Of the aid it
furnished for dependent children. |
For fiscal 1850. only $3,903, ,742
was appropriated for public as
sistance. The 1851 request exceeds
this by about $1.500.000.
Mr.. Tramburg. in addition to
expanding physical facilities. asked
1872 new jobs for the agencies and
protective service. They include:
Public Assistance Division, 81;
Child Welfare Division, 16: Home
for the Aged and Infirm, 40, and
the remainder spread out through
the protective agencies.
Mr.. Tramburg told the Com
missioners these positions, par
ticularly the social workers, are
necessary because the proportion
Of aged persons and children In
the population is increasing, as is
the number of persons eligible for
assistance, despite restrictive
regulations. l.