Evening star., 1952-05-13
Council Initiates
Move 10 Limit
School Spending
Falls Church Budget
Ordinance Amended
To List All Funds

A move toward limiting the ex-
penditures Of the Falls Church
School Board to budgeted funds
in the coming fiscal year was made
last night by the City Council.
An amendment to the budget
ordinance, advertised for public
hearing on May 26, was adopted
to include details of anticipated
revenues and expenditures of the
school department.
Revenues from Federal and
State sources will be listed, as well
as funds raised from local taxes.
The budget formerly reflected only
the funds to be raised from local
taxes.
The amendment was proposed
by Councilman Samuel E. Nc
Crary after an hour-long debate
between Council members, two
School Board members and other
city officials.
Mr.. McCrary said his amend
ment was prompted by a recent
audit report, which indicated that
the School Board, in the fiscal
year ended June 80, 1851, spent
$4,000 more than was budgeted.
John A. johnson, chairman of
the School Board. agreed that the
board spent more than the Council
originally approved as a budget.
However, the board did not spend
all the funds that it received dur
ing the year, he added. The
amount received above the total
OF the authorized budget was un-
anticipated revenue, Mr.. johnson
said. -.
Opposes Deficit Spending.
Mr.. McCrary said this deficit
spending took place under a prior
school board and declared that his
comments in no way reflected on
the present board. But he said a
definite policy is needed to pre-
vent recurrence Of deficit spend
ing in the future.
A statement presented by two
city residents. H. P. Strople and
John w. Wells, asked for a re-
organization Of city auditing to
prevent deficit spending.
Mr.. johnson raised the question
Of legality of the councils action.
He said the School Board receives
funds from Federal and State
sources. This money is not sub
ject to control by the City Council,
he said.
Richard L. Saintsing, a School
Board member. backed up this
argument and quoted a section
Of the city charter, which pro-
vides for additional appropriations
by the School Board of funds
available for school use.
Gibson Upholds Limit.
But City Attorney Lytton Gibson
said this section would not apply
where the Council sets a limit on
the total expenditures that may be
made for the school program in
any fiscal year.
Further support Of the Council
position was offered by City Man
ager w. r. Woodbury., who said
the Federal and State funds make
up only a fraction of total school
expenditures.
Since the non-local funds are
q minor item in the revenue
sources Of the schools, it is as
sumed that all of these funds are
spent before local money is used,
he said. This eliminates the argu-
ment that outside funds in excess
OF amounts originally anticipated
represent a surplus available to
the schools, he contended.
The Council must adopt a budget
by June 80. It is expected that
the budget will be set at the con-
clusion of the public hearing on
May 26.
Terms Of 3 Expiring.
In another action, the Council
announced it will receive nomina-
tions from city civic organizations
for three School Board vacancies
occurring on June 30.. The terms
of Mr.. Saintsing, DR.. Alfred M.
Palmer and Daniel ". Stapleton
will expire. The new appointees
will serve three-year. terms.
The Council also directed that
the three. members be contacted
to see If they are willing to be
reappointed.
A lot at 126 East Broad street
was reZoned from residential to
commercial at the request of
Frank D. Ardai. A recommends
tion Of the city planning commits
sion that the rezoning extend to
q depth of only $50 feet was re-
jected. The full lot, to depth
of approximately 225 feet, was
covered hv the rezonin1.