Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-07
District Asks
NeWU. Sloan
OfS75Mi||ion
Tobriner Reports
Fund Is Needed
To Avoid Cutbuck
By GRACE BASSETT
Star Staff Writer

Current costs of running the
District will have to be cut back
unless Congress allows the city
to borrow SIS million more
from the Federal Government
This assessment of the city's
fiscal plight was given to a Sen
ate subcommittee today by
Walter N. Tobriner, president
of the Board of Commissioners
The District already is $21e
million in debt to the Federal
Govern ent. This total
amounts to about 70 per cent OF
the annual spending budget
now almost $500 million.
The additional SIS million
would put the city 1924 million
in debt.
Sum Held Not Dangerous
Commissioner Tobriner said
a 1924 million Indebtedness
would not be dangerous, al
though it slightly exceeds the
limit the Commissioners have
set as policy. This limit is IL
per cent of the average assessed
value of taxable real and tan
gible personal property over the
last 10 years.
Twelve per cent now would
impose a debt ceiling of $3.50
million on the city.
But Mr.. Tobriner argued that
the percentage limit would not
be exceeded considering the
fact" that assessed valuation
of property will increase and
that Commissioners are steadily
paying off municipal debts.
About 5000 million of the
in-the-red spending of the Dis
trict has accumulated in the
last decade. Some SIT mil
lion has been borrowed for
water, sewer and highway syS-
TENS and SIS million for gen.
eral fund capital outlay in this
time.
Repaid by Taxpayers
Local taxpayers repay in
terest and principal in District
revenue or service charges.
j. c. Turner, of the Greater
Washington Labor Council,
urged the District Fiscal At
fairs Subcommittee to tack
another $3.50 million borrowing
provision onto the SIS million
request of the Commissioners.
The additional authorization,
which would boost the debt to
S4l4 million in the next decade,
would be used for schools.
Mr.. Tobriner stressed the
necessity for meeting the
critical need for public works,
now nearly one-half schools.
Added taxes and Federal
payment formula ammounting
to $40 million annually, in ad-
dition to the proposed SIS mil
lion loan, are needed, he said.
Without the loan, he told
ommittee Chairman
Smith, Democrat of MaSsachu-
sets. that operating money
would have to be reduced below
the current years spending in
order to meet building require
mentS.
Projects Enumerated
Essential projects for which
money will be unavailable
without the loan, Mr.. Tobriner
said, were:
Three libraries, police pre-
cinct and fire house replace
ments, two recreation centers,
one health center, two dormi-
tories and heating plant in
penal institutions, three cot
tages and a heating plant in
welfare centers, continuation of
the street lighting and storm
water sewer construction.
The Commissioner opposed a
tax exemption of $457 annually
for the War Mothers head
quarters at 2614 Woodley place
NV. Senator Cooper, Republi-
can of Kentucky, asked for the
tax exemption.
Also heard was testimony for
legislation to allow Commits
sioners to use more unpaid VOL
unteerS in Government activ-
tiles and to adjust tax pay
ments of AUDITING property
owners.