Greensburg budget would keep taxes flat despite 'revenue killer' pandemic

Greensburg City Councilman Randy Finfrock likes to pepper his annual budget presentation with jokes to keep it interesting for his fellow council members and residents.

“That’s not happening this time,” Finfrock said Monday. “This is a difficult budget, it’s a difficult year.” Council is considering a budget that would keep property taxes flat and prevent layoffs, but increases some fees and slashes discretionary spending.

The proposed $11.8 million general fund budget for 2021 is about $200,000 smaller than 2020’s due to the economic impact of the covid-19 pandemic, which Finfrock described as a “revenue killer.’

“It’s not so much an economic problem, it’s a biological problem with economic consequences,” Finfrock said.

The budget calls for spending less on supplies across the board, in particular for the Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments. Any new major projects will have to wait another year, Finfrock said.

“Discretionary spending is basically nothing,” he said. “We’ll do the things we need to do, but no more than that.”

City leaders considered a tax increase, but decided against adding to taxpayers’ financial burden during the pandemic, Finfrock said.

This would be the 13th consecutive city budget to keep real estate taxes at 25.05 mills. Voters approved a separate one-mill tax supporting the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library in a 2017 referendum.

The city is seeking some additional revenue in the form of additional fees.

Parking fines would rise from $20 to $30, or from $25 to $35 if not paid within 10 days.

Season passes to Veterans Memorial Pool would go up $25 for residents and $50 for non-residents. That means a family pass would cost $225 for residents, or $275 for non-residents.

The senior rate at Mt. Odin Golf Course would go from $24 to $25.

Council will vote on the final budget at 6 p.m. Dec. 14.