Greensburg approves $13M budget that includes 3.3% property tax hike

Property tax bills will increase 3.3% to fund a 2025 Greensburg budget that was approved this week by a divided city council.

Aside from a 1-mill tax approved by voters in 2017 that is designated for the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library and a 1-mill charge that since 2022 is designated for public safety, this is the first change in the tax rate in 18 years.

Councilman Randy Finfrock noted how the city has gotten through downturns in the economy, the coronavirus pandemic and inflation that followed it without raising taxes.

“I think it’s all about fiscal responsibility,” Finfrock said previously.

He was joined by Councilwoman Sheila Brumley and Mayor Robb Bell in voting in favor of the budget, which will increase taxes from 27.05 mills to 27.95 mills.

Councilmen Greg Mertz and Donnie Zappone Jr. voted no, city administrator Kelsye Milliron said.

The property tax increase will boost bills by $20 annually for the average property owner, Finfrock said.

The average property tax bill in Greensburg is about $422.

The millage increase will put about $100,000 into city coffers. Officials said part of the deficit arose because of a decrease in parking revenue and increased costs related to inflation.

In the past, the city has used $1.2 million in revenue from parking leases and meter payments to bolster the budget, but that income has dwindled to about $700,000 with fewer spots being leased, he said.

The $13 million budget calls for spending next year of $4.8 million on the public affairs and safety department, which includes police and administration, $1.3 million on the public works department and $1.75 million on the parks and recreation department.

Police sell guns long held in storage

Greensburg police are selling four long guns that were seized in a criminal case years ago, police Chief Charles Irvin said.

City council Monday unanimously approved selling the firearms to Hufftown Highpower in South Greensburg for $1,660. Irvin said the guns were ordered by a judge to be used for training by department officers.

“We have never used them,” he said. “They’ve simply sat in our gun lockup for however many years.”

It is typical in criminal cases for a judge to order that any weapons involved be destroyed, he said, but that didn’t happen in this situation.

“We just basically stored them for free,” Irvin said.

The city didn’t have to seek bids for the sale because the amount falls below the state’s threshold, he said.