Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-06-07
Alexandra Drafts
1914 Million Plan
9-Yeor Outlay
Proposed for
Improvements
BY JOHN BARRON
star stan Writer


The Alexandra city govern
ment on Tuesday will propose
spending si9,4 million for
schools. urban renewal. streets.
public buildings and other i'm
provements during the next
nine years.
City Manager Edward q.
Heatwole win recommend the
expenditures to the City Coun-
ell at its regular meeting.
The long-range capital i'm
provement budget urges outlay
Of roughly 50 million more than
previously planned and enu-
sions new bond issues Of almost
$l8,3 million.
City employees are prohibited
from disclosing contents Of the
budget prior to its presentation
to the council. However. an
other source revealed to The
Star details Of the huge invest
ment program which is. the
largest ever considered by Alex
andria.
$6.2 Million for Schools
The proposals allot $6.2 mil
lion for construction Of new
schools and additions to existing
ones.
The ALLEGATION includes $3.l
million for erection Of a new
high school. $605. 900 for a new
Elementary school in Southwest
Alexandra and $533,750 for q
new one in the Washington
Forest area.
It also would provide $672,.
600 to replace Stonewall jack
son Elementary School and
funds for additions to the
NIaury and Charles Barrett
Elementary Schools. a gym
nasium at George Washington
High School and an auditorium
at Parker-Gary High School.
A school official said yester-
day that the new schools prob
ably viii be needed within the
next three years. he reported
that plans already are being
drafted for the additions. GYM
nasium and auditorium.
Other Major Items
Other major expenditures
proposed: S5.4 million for
streets, 50 million for urban
renewal. and $l.2 million for
public buildings. including
$3.50, 900 for remodeling of
City Hall or an addition to it.
The program also suggests
nearly sl.3 million for six new
bridges, $542.244 for storm
drains, $4,000 for parking
facilities, SAT- .926 for IRE de-
partment buildings and $780,
900 for parks and recreation
facilities.
The budget was prepared by
Wilmer s. King. director Of
finance, under the supervision
Of Mr.. Heatwole and In con-
junction with city department
heads.
It represents their estimate
of the city's coming needs and
a financial program designed
to meet them.
One Alexandra source de-
scribed the budget as sound
and predicted the council will
accept its key recommendations
after public hearings.
Modification Provided For
The capital improvement
budget is subject to annual
modification and adoption of
it by the council does not legally
bind the city to expenditures
1t proposes. However. 1t does
represent intentions Of the city.
Rising real estate values in
Alexandria will permit the city
to issue the recommended
amount in bonds and still re-
main well under the legal debt
limit imposed by Virginia law.
State restrictions forbid q
municipality from issuing bonds
exceeding 10 per cent Of the
assessed value Of its real estate.
However, to maintain a high
credit rating, Alexandria adj
heres to q IA per cent limita-
ton.
The assessed value Of its
real estate has scared to $l6l
million and is expected to climb
still higher during the next
nine years.