Borough works to balance budget

WEST CHESTER » “It’s what I consider an emergency,” said Councilman and Finance and Revenue Committee Chairman Bernie Flynn, while referring to the borough’s finances.

The Finance and Revenue Committee, during Wednesday’s special virtual meeting, scrambled to overcome a multi-million dollar deficit and prepare a revised proposed budget for 2020.

Salary freezes, credit card fee payments and eliminating overtime for non-emergencies were all discussed in a bid to overcome the estimated $4.2 million deficit, partly due to the global pandemic.

The committee only makes suggestions and the full borough council will likely consider a replacement budget at the July meeting.

Committee member Nick Allen said that if the borough can balance the budget through cuts and increased income, and does not have to tap into its capitol reserve fund, which is set aside for a rainy day, it would be “huge.”

The committee considered enacting a salary freeze starting in 2021, for 18 months.

Flynn called a possible freeze as a “smart move.”

Committee member Bill Scott noted such a freeze is a “good thought.”

Borough Manager Mike Perrone said the freeze could not be performed unilaterally since most employees are union members, including the police department.

“We would need to reopen negotiations with unions to consider it,” Perrone said.

Any action was tabled by Flynn.

Finance Director Barbara Lionti said that the scheduled annual police raises are set at 4.25 percent for 2021.

Several recently promoted officers, including Chief Jim Morehead, had volunteered to forgo collecting new raises through

October.

The committee learned that the borough pays on average a 3 percent fee for those paying parking tickets at Borough Hall or via phone with credit cards. Parking director Clark Elms also told the committee that the borough picks up the 11 cent fee per transaction at the meters, regardless of how long a parker stays.

Allen said that only those paying with credit cards should pay an added fee at Borough Hall and Scott agreed.

No recommendation concerning overtime pay was made to council. Discussion of the issue was carried over to the regular finance committee meeting on Wednesday.

The police department is already understaffed due to injuries and three officers leaving the force. Several officers are expected to retire in the fall.

Mayor Dianne Herrin oversees the police department.

“The only way to fill the slots is to bring people in and pay the overtime,” Herrin said about police. “It is essential, especially if we don’t rehire to fill the vacant slots.”