Evening star., 1953-01-09
Capital Budget Exceeds Current Years Expenses by Million
Sum Is Virtually All
We Expect TO Get,'
Fowler Declares
(Continued From First Page.)


schools and other building i'm
provementS.
4. Increasing the cost limit
for the East Capitol Street
Bridge from $12 million to SIG
million; building an overpass at
Kenilworth and Deane avenues
NE. and providing planning
money for the Southway Free
way system.
5. Placing the Office OF Civil
Defense in the budget for the
first time. Formerly. due to the
uncertain status of civil defense
here, the agency was provided
for in supplemental approprla-
tionS.
6. SIS million to continue work
on the new incinerator at Mount
Olivet road and West Virginia
avenue NE.
7. S4.3 million to continue ex-
panding the water system, by
constructing a new and bigger
reservoir at Fort Reno and a
Little Falls dam and pumping
station with tunnel to Dale
carlia Reservoir.
Zoning Survey Included.
Also of interest. the estimates
include $225,000 for a survey
leading to revision of the Dis
tricts complex zoning regula-
tions and building code.
And the Commissioners SAL
aries would be upped another
grade, from $4,000 to $l4,800.
This would apply to the Engi-
neer Commissioner. to whom the
city makes up the difference be-
tween his Army pay and the
civilian Commissioners salary.
The Assistant Engineer Commis-
sioners would get similar pay
boosts. to the level now enjoyed
by the Commissioners them
selves.
The three city heads would
also get new automobiles. at
$500 each, to replace the five
year-old Bucks that now carry
them around.
The budgeters tried especially
hard in the 1854 estimates to
meet the requests for additional
personnel. In all, the depart
ments asked for a total of 678.
All but 156 of these are provided
for in the budget. The cost comes
to S1.4 million. the bulk going to
schools, welfare and health for
this purpose.
Full U. s. Share Asked.
Once again, the District asks
for the full $12 million Federal
share in the local government
operation. Only $11 million was
forthcoming for fiscal 1858. OF
the full authorized amount.
which only sporadically is
granted the District. $l1 million
would go into the city's general
fund, and ST. million to the water
fund. The latter fraction repre-
sents the Federal Government
payment for the water 1t takes
from the city system. This year.
that amount was some $3.50, 900
less than the actual cost of the
water used.
The anticipated revenue COL
lections for 1854 are broken
down as follows in the budget
estimates:
General fund-in addition to
the hoped-for Federal payment.
the real estate tax would pro-
vide $50 million and the sales
tax SIS million to head a cate
CORY that is expected to bring In
q total of $101 ,265, 900.
Highway fund-With the new
scent gasoline tax the big SO
million producer, this motor We
hicle and street category is ex-
pected to receive better than
$l4 million.
Water fund-Collections from
regular users are estimated at
more than $5 million. four-f1fths
of the amount local consumers.
With a 81 million Federal pay
ment for it's water supply, and
81 million portion of the funds
Treasury Department loan more
than $40 million would be pro-
vided.
Motor Vehicle Parking fund
100000 is expected to be COL
lected from the parking meters.
With the expected 1854 collec-
tions plus estimated surpluses
carried over from fiscal 1858,
budget officials anticipate a sur
plus by the end of fiscal 1854 to-
falling $4.4 million. However.
such items as the water fund
surplus of So million, and the
parking fund surplus of nearly
ST million cannot be touched,
being obligated for future years
appropriations.
Last Minute Item.
Another 81 million, listed as
the general fund surplus. has
been earmarked for a last-min-
ute budget item inserted by the
commissioners for starting the
ChildrenS' Center in Laurel. It
is these factors that leave the
District with an actual surplus
OF $100.488.
Slim margins of surplus like
this give the Districts budget
officers the cold shudders. In
recent years. they acknowledge.
their revenue estimates have
been conservative. At the same
time, the revenue curve has con-
tinued upward. What causes
apprehension. however. is the ar
rival of the day when the city in
come curve "flattens out"
This "flattening out" accord
ing to Deputy Budget Officer
William G. Wilding. can develop
as a result of flight of upper
salary residents from the city
and an influx of the lower-pay-
grade classes. Business would