Evening star., 1952-07-14

ToCal Tor operation costs IN MS
cal "a comes to $119. .726, ,295. Capt.
tai outlay needs are placed at
SCI 1895. 200.
In the operations category, the
largest single item is the $2,922,-
149 increase requested for better
ment of existing municipal serv-
ices. This would provide, chiefly,
more employees and equipment.
Heavier Population.
A heavier population at the
city'S institutions - such as hos
pital, welfare and corrective-ac-
counts for an increased estimate
of $2,299. 1886. Other increases In
operating estimates are required
by more retirement, overtime and
promotion pay required by law,
and higher costs due to increas-
ingly inflated costs.
The capital outlay boost is due
almost entirely to requests for
$57. .2l3, 1858 in new construction Of
all types. Virtually all the re-
mainder Of the increase is attrib-
utable to the need for completing
execution of contracts left over
from the present fiscal year.
OF the four city funds into
which 1854 revenue will be paid.
only the Water Fund will require
less than the amount appropri-
|ated for 1853 $2.1 million drop
from $12.6 million, due to less
demands for capital outlay.
The remaining funds require
these increases to pay for the
estimated needs of departments:
General Fund, $46.1 million
more than the $110.1 million ap-
propriated for 1858; Highway
Fund, $3.3 million over SLOT mil
lion, and Motor Vehicle Parking
Fund, $S5,500 over $105. 900.
Estimates Called Realistic.
The towering totals notwith-
standing. the budget officer de-
Scribed the 1854 estimates as
more realistic than ever before" !"
He was referring to the depart
ments' adhering to the per cent
ceiling on operating expenses.
AS for the capital outlay figure,
Mr.. Fowler admitted he antici-
pated it would be, high since no
limitation had been imposed. He
accepted that problem philosophi-
cally. however,
Everyone knows as well as do
that there Is bound to be insuffi-
cient funds on the basis Of past
revenue availability" he said.
How To Trim Requests.
Mr.. Fowler has explained that
excessive requests for capital out
lay financing are most easily dis
posed Of by the simple expedient
Of deleting from the estimates
list those items having least pri-
ority.
The District Commissioners will
get first crack at the 1854 figures
tomorrow, as soon as the regular
morning Board Of Commissioners
meeting is over, they will hold
closed hearings with the depart
ment heads who will seek to JUS
tify all their estimates.
A public hearing has been set
for 10 am. August 4 in the board
room Of the District Building for
the citizens to express their views.
In addition. at least two new
civic bodies win carefully screen
the 1854 figures. These are the
Citizens Advisory Committee on
Public Works, which has been
studying long-range capital outlay
needs Of the District, and the
Citizens Advisory Council, newly
appointed adjunct to the Conn
missioners under the Government
reorganization plan.
The effect Of the reorganization
plan as a whole on the budget
estimates is completely uncertainl
at this point, according to Budget
Ofncer Fowler. He pointed outl
that the actual revamping OIL
Government departments hasI
barely started. Until the COM
decide In detail justl
how the city agencies are to bel
or consolidated. current
budgeting procedures win remain
IN force. |