Evening star., 1952-06-12
July | Dead|ine
Set for Agencies
On dc. Budget
Must Present 1854
Figures on Estimates
Within ; Weeks

I'9uISS OF 6SttmOteS
Within ; Weeks
District agency heads today
were under orders to prepare their
1854 budget estimates six weeks
ahead of time and to keep the
amounts down to no more than
5 per cent increases over 1853
budget requests.
Budget Officer Walter L. Fowler
set a July l deadline for the esti-
mates. Normally the date is Au-
gust Is, and sometimes later. The
department chiefs were taken
aback by the order. which leaves
them less than three weeks to
get their final figures together.
The new deadlipe was made
necessary by the insistence of the
Federal Budget Bureau that the
District, as well as all Federal
agencies, compl, with a Septem-
ber Is deadline prescribed by the
Budget and Accounting Act.
Extension Considered.
In past years, the Budget Bu-
reau has been lenient with the
various agencies. This year, how
ever. the Federal budget officials
seek to avoid last-minute rush
to round the estimates into final
shape for Congress.
City budget officials already
have asked for an extension of
time to October Is. Director of
the Budget Frederick j. Lawton
indicated today that he would con-
slider an extension.
Whether the extension is grant,
ed or not, Budget Officer Fowler
said the District agency deadline
will remain unchanged.
To ease this blow, however. Mr..
Fowler has told the departments
they need not prepare budget
schedules and information con-
cerning the past and current f1s-
Cal year to accompany the latest
budget estimates, as has been re-
qulred in the past.
May Handicap Citizens.
The effect of the order on civic
groups and individuals who always
like to state their budget views in
public hearings and meetings is
uncertain at this time. Virtually
all such organizations will be in
summer recess and if budget hear
ings are moved up in accordance
with the new headlines the citizens
may not get the best opportunity
to speak.
One Advisory Committee to the
commissioners is trying even now
to decide its course. Assistant En-
gineer Commissioner Harry F..
Hansen, secretary of the Citizens
Advisory Committee on Public
Works, pointed out that the group
is not planning to complete its re-
port on public works needs here
until October /.
Col. Hansen said the group
couldn't possibly complete its re-
port on its proposed six-year $3O3
million capital outlay program by
July /. But, he added, "we'll get
it in the 1854 budget one way or
another"
The S per cent increase on oper-
atlng expenses ceiling" imposed
by Budget Officer Fowler marks
the first time department heads
will have to work under a spe-
clf1cally restricted budget figure.
If all departments seek 5 per cent
increases over their $114.9 million
estimates for operating expenses
in fiscal 1858, the 1854 estimates
would come to nearly $l21 million.
NO limits were set by Mr.. Fowler
on capital outlay requests. the
budget officer emphasized.
Date Near for New Plan.
Department heads also were in
structed not to include increases
covering within-grade pay in
creases in the 1854 estimates. This
item must be covered by job
lapses, 1t was explained.
The forthcoming city govern
ment reorganization plan, to 20
into effect on June 80, will create
no problem, for the present at
least. Mr.. Fowler acknowledged
the plan will require many
changes necessitating appropria-
tions transfers after June 30.
But the extent of these
changes are undeterminable at
this time. and they will not be
considered with this transmittal
(of budget estimates), he said.