Evening star., 1952-07-14

Despite Ceiling
Not Much Restraint
Seen in Calculation
For Capitol Outlay
The 1854 District budget esti-
mates totaling $181 ,021 .495 reach
ed an all-time peak despite a cell
ing imposed by the budget Offtee
on department operating expe J.
Budget Officer Walter ler
last month instructed thu ICY
chiefs to limit their estiiaagS to
"a S per cent increase over the
1881 million appropriation rec
commended by the Senate for the
current year. That was the latest
figure which city officials had to
work with at the time they were
preparing their estimates.
According to Mr.. Fowler, the
departments did quite well keep
ling their calculated operations
needs within the S per cent limita-
ton.
Notes Little Restraint.
In contrast, they generally
showed little restraint in setting
|up their estimates for capital out
lay-new construction.
While the operating funds in
crease was placed at $7,565 1893,
the capital outlay figure ballooned
SAC, ,289, 700 over the amount ap-
|propriated for 1868 in the current
appropriation.
Total for operation costs in fis-
cal "a comes to $119, ,726. .295. Capt.
tai outlay needs are placed at
SOL ,295. 200.
In the operations category, the
largest single item is the $2,922,-
l49 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
Icity's institutions - such as hos
lpital, welfare and corrective-ac-
counts for an increased estimate
of $2.299,38 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
$57.213,968 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-
Iated for 1953-a $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 Department.!
General Fund, $46.1 million
more than the $110.1 million ap-
Ipropriated for 1858; Highway
Fund, $3.3 million over $10.7 mil
lion. and Motor Vehicle Parking
Fund. $35,500 over $105,000.
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 S 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 I 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-
Iority.
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
ltify all their estimates.
A public hearing has been Sc,
for 10 am. August 4 in the board
room Of the District Building fol
the citizens to express their views
In addition, at least two new
civic bodies win carefully screen
tho 10EA Ao,xrac rrJ.,s> - A.