Several Greenville borough council members had harsh words for the Mercer County Court of Common Pleas Tuesday over a court-ordered study by Keystone Research, Inc.

"We were forced to spend $3,000 to be told our budget is fine again," Councilwoman Pamela S. Auchter said. "This was an unnecessary hoop for us to jump through."

In compliance with the plan presented by state-appointed Act 47 coordinator Resource Development and Management, Inc., Greenville petitioned the courts to raise the earned income tax on borough residents to 1.7 percent and on non-residents who work in the borough to 1.5 percent.

Before approving the increase Monday, Mercer County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Francis J. Fornelli required Keystone Research to complete a feasibility study of the borough's financial situation and to verify the borough's budget for the upcoming year.

The court also ordered the borough to pay for the study.

Keystone Research is expected to present a $3,000 bill for its services. The consulting firm is headed by Richard H. Miller, a Greenville Municipal Authority board member.

"We did not expect this," Mrs. Auchter said.

Councilwoman Robin S. Douglas said the borough's finances and budget had been signed off on by the borough's auditors and the Act 47 coordinators.

"It's my thought that if the county ordered it, the county would pay the bill," Mrs. Douglas said, adding she had raised her hand at the court hearing at least twice and was not recognized to voice her comments on the matter.

Mrs. Douglas said the borough had spent countless man hours and $20,000 on its auditors to produce its budget.

"The courts should have come to us before ordering this study," she said. "They should have requested information from us."

The document, Mrs. Douglas said, was a five-page report.

"They were here for about two days," she said. "And $3,000 is a lot to pay for five pages."

Mrs. Douglas and Mrs. Auchter noted the bill for the study had not yet been presented. When it does come in, they said they would like to have it itemized with precise billing details.

"That is $3,000 that could have been better spent somewhere, anywhere else," Council Vice President David P. Henderson said.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Amanda Smith-Teutsch at: ateutsch@sharonherald.com