The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-07-21
This Year Will See Estimated
Expenditures Of Eighty Billion
Bctween Appropriation
And Expenditure

B y
" c,lARLEs MoLoMY
WASHINGTON 0The govern
mcnt has authority from Congress
to spend about Isl billion dollars.
but doesn't expect 70 spend much
more than hah Of II during fiscal
19ss, which started July i.
Officials said here they couldn't
spend tie whole amount before
- fiscal year ends next june 90
Il thsy wanted to--and they don't.
They're figuring now that this
years actual expenditures VIII be
around % billion.
II the government does spend
. billion, It win have to get 10
billion from borrowing, for its In
come from taxes and other sources
isn't likely to top 70 billion this
year.
Confusing? Well, Il isn't bad 1t
III. II you get straight On one
basic point the difference between
Al expenditure and m apprcpri-
alton.
An expenditure is easy to COM
prehend, Just what It sounds like
payment for goods when they're
delivered, or for wages and sal
aries when they're earned. Pay
ment i BY check, and the money
has to Be available before ne
check b written.
Appropriation IS what throws
people Of. Many think you have
10 have money before you can APP
prOpriate 4; still more believe that
when there,s an appropriation for
= specified year, it's the top
amount that can be spent II that
year.
Not 50, 1t least not In govern
ment language, where appropria-
lion, briefly and simply. means
ibis: An act (passed BY Congress
and approved BY the President)
dat (l) authorizes an agency TO-
SPEND, and ca requires the Treas
nry % see to Il that the money
3 available when needed, by bcr-
rowing u necessary.
10 nail down the point that the
money doesn't have to be on hand
Cor Congress to appropriate Il. note
lhat spending authorizations are
outstanding to the tune Of Isl bill
Hon dollars, then note the Treas
ury's present cash balance. It's
~ billion now, and that happens
. b hieher than usual.
A. to an appropriation for .
specified year fiscal 1858, for ex-
ample befng the top amount that
can b spent III that year, note
this: The government expects To-
opend over % billion dollars this
year. although Congress- Only au-
lkOri1ed about - billion for that
period.
whore does authority b spend.
~ other seven billion come fromf
1he answer: From spending at-
thOrixations granted for previous
yaars, but not used up.
That's the clue also TO how there
happens 70 b = total d l57 bill
Hon dollars 81 spending authority
available now. when only - bil-
Hon was provided specifically for
this year. Whnn this year ends,
poms vim again b len over for
future years.
Csrtain typss of authorizations
expire \ nol used ~ years end.
a rood example d an appropria-
don q pay salaries d employer:
that hind q appropriation doesn't
carry over.
hut Tie really hlg-money appro.
prlaii0ns for recent years have
boen for buying military goods
ahips, planes and - Cn-and these
carry over irOm ce1e year % an
ether until IA ~ money = spent,
Whenever hat may be,
Some apprupriations are perma-
rent nod year a and year out.
ma nct restricted II amount:
They're eoo1 lor whatsoever sum
= required for Tie purpose stated.
Best example u u permanent
opproprinlion b pay whatever Tie
onforo1t comes 10 on the national
Gohlcurrcntly almosk six billfon
! ysar Interest o. ! debt q -
AlIlion.
Ihon there's 4 case where Con-
nrese oivos m nxeney authority
9 mann contracts lor I specified
totai--lIke aulhoFiring ne Navy 70
eonirack for 3 - million dollar
aircraft carrier.
Eventualiy. Congress- has 10 ap-
peurriate funds ~ IL agency Is
nat1 God q ~ contract.
Old Locomotive