Evening star., 1950-01-22
Lane Expected
To Ask Record,
BaIancedBudgei
Assembly Due TO Set
Request Next Month
For STAG, 500, 900
By Whitney Shoemaker
Associoted Press Stoff Writer

Assoeioted Press staff Writer
ANNAPOLIS, Jan. 81. - The
General Assembly will be asked
next month to appropriate more
money than ever before, informed
quarters predicted today.
How far the next budget will
go beyond the current $135, 500, 900
record-breaker will be up to the
Senators and Delegates them
selves.
But persons familiar with Mary
land fiscal affairs say the pro-
posed budget. drafted after
months of study, will call for the
expenditure of perhaps $4,000, 900,
more, despite tax cuts totaling
$3,750.000, which Gov. Lane has
recommended. And all under a
balanced budget.
Opposed to Red-Ink Budget.
Capitol observers recalled the
Governors declaration a year ago
that he is "unalterably opposed"
to a red-ink budget. So are al
vast majority of Maryland legis-
lators.
To pick up the cost-of- govern
ment check, they would depend
mainly on the income, sales,
gasoline and motor vehicles taxes
Exactly how much the Cover
nor will ask for the fiscal year
beginning July l is a well-kept
secret. 1t will not be divulged
until he appears before the Cen
eral Assembly to open the first
3O-day session. February l..
Some increase is almost certain.
It could not be avoided without
q slash in general funds, which
pay the bills Of most State de-
partments. No cut there is antici-
pated.
The assured Jump is in special
funds. These are raised by taxes
dedicated to specific uses. The
scent a gallon gasoline levy is
one. Each nickel is funneled into
the State Roads Commission to
pay for new highways and bridges.
Special Fund Agencies.
Special fund appropriations
equal amounts that special fund
agencies expect from their tax
sources during the year.
Latest estimate is that these
revenues will total $63,315,832.
That much presumably will be
appropriated. It compares with
a SCI, 1,455,472 treasure chest in the
current budget.
To the experts who handle COM
plicated budgets like a child's
abacus, general funds are the key
to State finances.
Schools, mental hospitals and
other institutions survive on gen.
eral funds. Their bills are paid
by receipts from the income tax,
the sales tax and other levies
which hit the public at large.
General funds are spent ac-
cording to how much money the
State has and how much the ad-
ministration and legislature de-
eide is necessary.
General funds embrace STA
1924 of the present S135, ,584,746
budget. Requests from various
agencies for the coming fiscal year
totaled S84 1886, 1886, a jump of al
most Is per cent.
General Fund Boost Seen,
What proportion of these re-
quests will be appropriated de-
pends on administration policy
and legislative consent. They have
been scrutinized closely by the
Governor. budget department and
State house fiscal advisers.
Observers most familiar with
the States money picture fore
cast the Governor will propose
boost Of several millions for gen.
sral fund departments.
They wager virtually all the in
crease will go three ways-to
schools, mental hospitals and well
fare.
Some would be mandatory.
Laws fix a large percentage of
State aid to public education
through a formula based on the
number of students and class
rooms, plus the equalization fund
which enables counties to meet
Statewide standards.
Part of the mental hospital
bounty also would be essential to
carry out improvements author
lied by the Legislature last year
when the entire mental hospital
system was reorganized.
Welfare Appropriations.
Welfare appropriations, which
have been the cause of many As
sembly battles, would reflect the
economic scene.
Public schools receive $28,499,-
$50 in the current budget. For
next year. the Department of Ed
ucation has asked $30,015,023.
Mental hospitals are now al
1otted $8.375,872. They have asked
$9,570,667. FL
For welfare, the allowance is
S6,964.77 the request, So, ,318, 1854.
How much has been left in the
Governors proposed budget after
screening of the requests will be
known February /.
With everything else, observers
conjecture the 1851 budget could
reach an unprecedented total of
$40. 100000.
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