Evening star., 1950-01-09
Nearly z Million
Surplus Seen Here;
Taxes Unchanged
By Don S. Worren

President Truman today sent
to Congress District budget OF
$119,244,875 for the next fiscal
year that is balanced, calls for no
tax increases and, in fact, indi-
Gates surplus June 80, 1851, Of
nearly 100000.
This picture, in sharp contrast
with that of year ago, when the
city faced huge deficit and lacked
means of meeting an overdue pay
raise for its employees. results from
enactment last summer of the
sales tax and other new levies.
Record-breaker that it is, how
ever, the 1851 District budget still
leaves many problems to the fu-
ture.
Requests Cut 20 Millions.
The District Commissioners, who
framed the 1851 budget, slashed
nearly $20,000.0O0 from the orig
inal estimates of their department
chiefs to keep outlays within
bounds. City officials said they
deliberately had cut 1851 costs
somewhat under revenue estimates
because they had considered in
creased demands for 1852 and
later.
In doing SO, they recommended
funds to strengthen many city
services, stepped up the perma-
nent Improvement program
though to a point far less than
their departments said was needed
and laid the groundwork for
several long-range projects.
Plans for expansion of school,
health and welfare programs suf-
fered the most in the slashing of
the department requests, along
with rejection of a plan for bor-
rowing to finance expansion of
the water supply and publication
system.
Surplus Expected.
The general fund alone carries
outlays Of more than $103, LAG 900
but a surplus of $1.787.37 is an
ticipated even. after earmarking
81 .000, 900 for yet unasked supple
mentals.
For the highway fund the
budget proposes $9.898 200, using
up all but $7,155 Of revenues from
the gasoline tax. Outlays from the
water fund would total 5000, 900
The surplus there is calculated at
s182, 900.
! In addition to direct appropria-
tions, the plan calls for $8.p82 .00o
in new contract authorizations.
/ The healthier trend in city f.
nance is reflected in a forecast
that the present year will end
with a surplus Of s6,l95,144. This
will be carried into the new year
June 80, to swell the 1852 reve-
nues.
improvements Cut Back.
The departments had asked
$50, 100000 for permanent i'm
provements but the city heads cut
this back to $18.878,775, about
$3,511 900 more than was appro-
priated for the present fiscal year.
Employment of 1881 more city
employees had been asked by the
departments, at a cost of nearly
SIS, 100000 but the Commissioners
sliced this down to 641. to cost
about $1,789,o 900.
The grand total Of the 1851
budget is nearly 10000 above
the regular appropriation act for
the present fiscal year. But that
diferential will be reduced sub
stantially before the end of the
fiscal year because Of supplement
tai appropriations-in one
to provide for continuing the pay
raises granted city workers.
Projects Planned.
Highlights of the new program,
as outlined in the budget message:
l. The bare beginning of devel-
opment of the long-projected
Children's Center at Laurel, Md.
with an outlay of $500,000 for
starting work on a new heating
plant, sewage disposal plant and
other utility works having a total
estimated cost of $1.24o,o0o. Ulti-
mately, 1t is planned to relocate
several of the welfare institutions
there in the vicinity of the Dis
trict Training School for Feeble
minded.
2. An outlay of $750, 900 for be-
ginning a $4,000, 900 program for
modernization of the rundown.
inadequate Home for Aged and
CONTINUED on Page A-8, Col. -