Greenville council passes motion to increase budget

GREENVILLE, Pa. -- A budget increase will save the borough money, says Councilman David P. Henderson.
The motion approved during Tuesday evening's council meeting was for a budget increase for the Greenville Area Leisure Services Association to cover mowing expenses for 2004.
The association oversees Riverside Park in Greenville and the Sports Complex in West Salem Township, and is responsible for maintenance at both facilities. GALSA's maintenance employees, however, are on the Greenville borough payroll.
The budget increase "is an illusion," said Henderson, who also sits on the GALSA Board of Directors.
According to Henderson, a maintenance employee recently transferred to the borough streets department to fill a vacancy there, and GALSA will not replace him.
He said in this way, the amount of money the borough puts into the GALSA budget is decreased by $30,000 a year, but it leaves the association with no one to mow the lawn at the two facilities.
GALSA's request to borough council was for an amount up to $7,500 to pay for contracting the mowing out, Henderson said. The full amount is for 25 cuttings, according to Henderson, who said he doesn't believe they will need that many.
He said the borough is still saving $22,500 a year, even with the approval of this request.
Council agreed to the request but stipulated that it will pay monthly rather than in one lump sum.