Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-10
$248.2 Million D. c. Budget Sought,
"A Rise Of $50 Million Over Last Year

The Commissioners budget
aides today proposed that the
city spend about $248.2 million
during the next fiscal year, an
increase Of more than $50 mill
lion over the current budget.
The proposed budget for the
fiscal period beginning next
July called for the increased
spending despite cuts Of nearly
s24.5 million in departmental
requests.
In their report. budget off,
Gals supported their recon-
mendations by citing "contin-
ued urgent demands for services
and increases in mandatory
items"
The recommended amount
totals s248.208,00 OF this
operating expenses account for
s203, 966,704 and capital outlay
for the $44,2l4.300 balance.
Operating expenses reflect a
s9.4 million increase over the
current amount. The recon-
mended public works spending
is $2.4 million under this years
comparable figure.
81 Would Raise Taxes
In reducing the departmental
requests, the budget office cut
slQ.2 million in operating ex-
pense and $l4.2 million from
public works.
The financing recommenda-
tons were to increase taxes in
seven categories, to ask Con-
gress for the full s32 million
Federal payment to the city,
and to borrow about 500 million
from the Government.
On the spending side, the
budget office said the proposed
SPA million increase in operat-
ing expenses over the current
year is needed to cover I'M
aToidable items along with new,
improved and expanded serv-
ices. The items specified in the
report. which reflect a Sl0,2
million spending hike when the
current one-year-only costs
are set aside, include:
About $3.4 million to cover
increased costs for Within
grade promotions. electricity,
Federal obligations, mainly for
services provided by st. Eliza
beths Hospital; policemen and
firemen pensions. and the in
augural ceremonies.
More than $2.5 million for
increased workloads under pro-
grams of the welfare, school,
general administration and
health departments.
More for Teachers
Nearly $2.2 million for staff |
Ing and maintenance of new
construction for the Depart
ment Of Corrections Youth
Center and Psychiatric Re-
Mobilization Center. the Welfare
Departments Children's Gen.
ter, and for libraries and
schools.
About $2.2 million for addi-
tional teachers to reduce the
pupil-teacher ratio, mainte-
nance Of recreation areas and
provision for extra hours OF
indoor recreational activities,
foreign language and special
teachers; street lighting and
other increased services.
For the general fund, budget
officials recommend $209.5 mil
lion. about $187.2 million for
operating expenses and s22.3
million for construction.
The money would come from |
local sources, boosted by the |
tax increase program, and from |
q full S32 million Federal pay
ment along with a SIS million |
Treasury loan.
Congress lifted the author
tied Federal payment to $32
million in 1858. but appropri-
ated only $25 million both for
the past fiscal period and the
current year.
Loans Authorized
The SIS million borrowing
would mark the second INSTALL
ment on the SIS million in
Treasury loans authorized by
Congress for public works. This
city borrowed its first $40 mil
lion this year.
To aid the city's highway
program. which is suffering be-
cause Of the cutback In avail
able Federal matching funds,
the budget Office recommended /
two bookkeeping moves. One is
TO drop the procedure of shift
Ing about 1913 million in high
way funds to finance general
government activities and in
stead to use the money for the
program.
1t also was proposed that |
Congress be asked to increase
the percentage Of motor vehi-
Gle registration money avail
able to the highway depart
ment from "a to SO per cent.
This would add about S125.000
a year to highway revenue.
If these two suggestions are
carried out. no further high.
way financing problems are
anticipated for "a few years."
the report said. The budget
office emphasized, however,
that the construction program
Is based on the present author
lied Federal aid and any re-
duction In Government funds
will have an impact on city
Highway Loan
The budget Office proposed
that Congress be asked to ap-
prove. in addition to local
revenue, another Government,
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