`Budget approved despite complaints`

By Hal Johnson
Herald Writer

Greenville property owners will see higher tax bills in the coming year as they pay the first of two installments for three major projects.

In the face of vocal opposition, council on Wednesday adopted a $2,792,458 budget for 2000 and raised taxes by 10 mills, setting them at a total of 66.

The additional 10 mills will mean an additional $50 for the average property owner, Peter D. Nicoloff Jr., borough manager, said previously.

Mrs. Joseph Krepp, a Davis Street resident who said she lives on $400 a month, asked how senior citizens and people on fixed incomes will be able to pay more taxes and keep their homes. “You can raise taxes whenever you want. Where do I go to pay for it?” she asked.

The 66 mills break down to: 30 mills for general purposes, 23 mills for debt, 4 mills for street lights, 7 mills for recreation, and 2 mills for fire protection.

A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of a assessed property value; assessments are one-third of a property’s 1970 market value. At 66 mills, a property assessed at $6,000 would carry a tax bill of $396.

The tax increase will help pay off a $3.5 million bond issue that will cover the local share of a $5.5 million recreation project. The project includes an outdoor sports complex in West Salem Township, a new recreation center and trails.

The bond money — funds borrowed from investors — will also cover a new $688,800 fire station and urban landscaping, which is part of a downtown revitalization project. State grants will provide $2.2 million for the sports complex and $218,000 toward the streetscape project.

Tax rates will remain elevated in 2001 to pay for the bond issue. If fund-raising efforts for the sports complex are successful, the second year tax levy for the project could be less than 10 mills, Nicoloff said.

When the local tax burden became known the sports complex spawned a public outcry at a recent council meeting and a petition drive. The 355-signature petition was delivered to Nicoloff. Responding to Mrs. Krepp, Councilman Richard S. Houpt said she can express her opposition and vote out councilmen at the ballot box.

That didn’t answer her question, Mrs. Krepp said. “We already have a beautiful park,” she said, asking whether spending more tax money for recreation is necessary.

“When are you going to have enough fun before we go broke?” asked Gregory Jazwinski, 51 Davis St. People from surrounding townships will be using the recreation facilities, but “Greenville is footing the bill,” said Bill Johns, 11 Davis St.

Jazwinski said high taxes are making it hard to sell homes. Johns said businesses are leaving the borough and moving to Hempfield Township.

Promoters of the project said they expected surrounding townships to join the borough in paying for the work. But supervisors in Hempfield and West Salem townships haven’t signed on. Houpt said he doesn’t understand why those supervisors are not cooperating with funding the rec projects.

“One of areas that attracts people here is recreation facilities. They are necessary for a community,” Houpt said.

In light of the major projects, borough operating costs were tightened to avoid any additional tax increases, Nicoloff said.

The $2.8 million budget, about $218,000 more than the 1999 budget, represents an 8 percent increase in spending.

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