Show r I I I i r I i Welfare Head Prepares For Wars War's End Explains High Budget Request Based On Expected Load The possibility of abrupt In Increases Increases In- In creases In relief rolls with the wars war's end or the closing down of Utah war industries justifies the record breaking budget of the state welfare commission commissioners contended Thursday Thurs I day in a letter of explanation to Governor Herbert B B. Maw The governor had asked the department department de de- for an explanation of the basis on which the public welfare department estimated an increase in excess of in expenditures in 1944 over 1943 In answer J. J Parley White state welfare commissioner pointed point point- ed out that estimates have no connection with wit h expenditures i citing an overestimate of in connection with the 1943 budget budi bud bud- get as an example The 1943 1948 I i budget was while actual actual ac ac- expenditures November and December estimated have been Mr White explained County Estimates I Mr White further explained that the departments department's budget was wasi I based on estimates by the various county welfare departments upon which the counties make levies to meet their 15 per cent participation participation pation in welfare expenditures adding that the state department could not wisely reduce estimates of the counties without adequate basis for such action In the event that a a. certain county estimated its expenditures for 1944 at and the state welfare commission approved of only and it developed dur dur- ing 1944 that the county had to spend then the state alone would have to have borne the extra 15 per cent on the 40 that we cut their estimate Mr White explained adding it would be too late for the county to make a levy after the money had already been spent Pointing out that expenditures res depend entirely on the number of people qualifying for aid and the amount of the grant to each recipient Mr White re reviewed reviewed re- re viewed the amounts allowed old age recipients asserting that al although although al- al though a large share of welfare expenditures are in this category no one can conscientiously claim that these amounts are in excess of the needs at the present time The average old age grant is approximately approximately ap ap- proximately 36 for single per per- sons Eye Pence Peace Conditions Mr White added that the commission commission com com- mission does not anticipate any significant change in amount of individual grants during the war with prices on the necessities of life remaining at about the present present pres pres- ent level After reviewing the war Induced decrease In number receiving various various vari vari- ous types of assistance Mr White said that provision should be made for at least an equal number again being added to relief rolls after the war By comparing the greatest number number num num- ber of recipients in the various categories in peak years with the lowest recent total of each Mr White estimated that at least 1032 more old age recipients SO 80 blind 2106 dependent children 1778 and em em- requiring annually to support them would be added to the rolls roUs as soon as the war emergency is over Sales Tax Reserve In addition to this workers were employed under the works progress rat ration Ion program in September 1939 re receiving receiving re- re in the one month alone If II the federal government government gov gov- is unable to carry on this gigantic program after the war a burden will be shifted to the state which may bankrupt it continued Mr White In regard to the status of ot the surplus in sales tax funds available available avail avail- able for the welfare program Mr White reported to the governor go that the reserve as of November 30 was as compared with as of November November Novem Novem- ber 30 1942 The Increase of 2 was achieved ed despite a total of not normally used for state welfare institutions being diverted to them by the 1943 appropriations bill bilI he pointed point point- ed d out |