Council begins work on Greenville's 2009 spending plan

By Monica Pryts
Herald Staff Writer

GREENVILLE October 10, 2008 05:00 pm

— Greenville council members Thursday discussed some details of the borough’s 2009 budget, starting with suggestions from the mayor.
“It should be a peaceful situation,” Mayor Richard H. Miller told council members.
This is his third year as mayor and said his worst time of year has always been the budget process, but he hopes this time around will be better than the last two.
Last year, Miller vetoed both the 2008 budget and the ordinance that allows Greenville to set higher earned income taxes because of Act 47, the state’s debt recovery plan for financially distressed communities, which Greenville adopted in 2003.
Council members voted to override both vetoes after several heated meetings where Miller criticized them for developing what he called a flawed and incomplete budget and not clearly identifying a $1 million surplus.
In 2006, Miller had to cast a tie-breaking vote to pass the budget and he wasn’t happy with several council members who didn’t give their reasons for rejecting the spending plan.
“There should seldom be a ‘no’ vote,” Miller said.
Council members need to work together and share thoughts and ideas early in the budget process because organizing Greenville’s finances is their most important action as elected officials, he said.
Miller also released a budget message last week urging council members not to lower property taxes because of the current state of the economy.
Pete Longiotti said the borough’s department heads started to draft their budgets Aug. 15 and met with council’s finance committee Sept. 11.
On Oct. 23, the committee will review a draft copy of the proposed budget; a public meeting to discuss it and receive input is set for 7 p.m. Oct. 27, he said.
There will be more budget discussion during council’s work session at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 6. At the regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 11, council will vote to advertise the proposed spending plan.
A special meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 24 to vote on adopting the budget. All meetings will be held in the borough building.