Evening star., 1952-01-02
Officials Move
ToTrim Budget
In Maryland
Have but Five Week.
To Prepare Years
Appropriations
BY the Assoeiotsd Press

pr WS ASSoetofe0 PfeSe
ANNAPOLIS. Jan. 2.-state
budget officials took up again to-
day the job of whiting down
gigantic appeals for money after
their drst holiday in weeks.
With the debut of a new cal
endar year, they have little more
than five weeks to prepare an
appropriations sheet for a new
dscal year.
Frequently in conference with
Gov. McKeidin they have been
analyzing general-fund requests
already totaling $100,145,613, a
record for Maryland. How much
they have trimmed and where is
a dark secret. But they've ad-
vanced to the stage of helping
Gov. McKeldin get together his
budget message. ..
Assembly Convenes February.s.
The Governor will present his
recommended budget. when the
general assembly reconvenes Feb
ruary 6 for 30-day meeting. The
budget for the fiscal year COM
mencing next July is the main
reason for the session.
Appropriations for the current
fiscal year involve $163, ,fS2, ,343. OF
this, 4$88,911,290 is in general
funds and the balance in special,
or dedicated, funds--like the gas
oline tax for roads work.
Requests from all but two of the
departments that operate on gen.
eral funds now exceed current al
lowanceS by nearly 13 million
dollars. This represents a desired
increase OF 14.s4 per cent.
Suggested special-fund outlays
on tAs State level add more mil
lions. The budget department has
not vet calculated amounts of
State-eollected revenues to be dis
tributed to Baltimore and the
counties, another element of spe-
cial funds.
The Governors own executive
department and the secretary of
State have yet to file their re-
quests. "a
Biggest Slice for Schools.
Az, always, the biggest single
general-fund account is for public
schools. It's slightly short of S35|
million as turned in by the De-
partment of Education. And for
the most part it cannot be re-
duced. -.--
The law. establishes a formula
for determining how much aid the
State must give cities and counties
for their schools. Whatever ex-
cess may develop will be returned
to the treasury at the end of the
year. :.
The school budget is based on
present teacher pay scales, It'll
makes no provision for an in
crease. a move strongly urged byI
the department. With much back
ing in the Legislature, more money
for the teachers is sure to be al
major issue during the session.
Ths department did propose al
$1,000 salary boost for DR.. Thomas
G. Pullen, jr., State superintend-
ent ct schools. He is the only
head Of a major department for
which raise was asked.
Obvious Places for a Cut.
AS the budget people size up re-
quests, obvious places for a cut
are the civil defense agency's bid
for $400.000-a 1900 per cent
jump-and the State Aviation
Commissions listing of almost
$619,000-more than a 5000 per-
cent increase. The reason is that
much Of the money they get will
come from a bond ISSUE, rather
than current revenues.
Aside from these, the Depart
ment Of Information Graves the
largest percentage increase. It
asked for $50, ,261. as compared to
q current appropriation of $31,-
589. A projected $4,000 State
advertising campaign represents
most OF the difference.
For State hospitals the Depart
ment Of Mental Hygiene requested
hikes ranging from 19 per cent
for the Eastern Shore Hospital to
80 per cent fir Rosewood Train
ing School. It hopes to pay for
additional personnel and i'm
proved services. It also takes into
consideration higher costs of food
and supplies.
Requested appropriations for
medical treatment of the poor
also mounted substantially.
The Health Department put in
Tor $1.Tlo,000. a rise of 10 per
cent. for its Bureau Of Medical
Services and Hospitals. Suggested
aid for State institutions. which
include private hospitals that care
for needy patients, totals $3,743.-
900. That's more than a half