Still faced with a nearly $1 million shortfall on Thursday, Greeneville's Budget and Finance Committee began discussing a property tax increase as a real option for balancing the 2010-11 budget.

No action was taken by the committee, which wrapped up four straight days of discussion on the best options for cutting expenses and generating revenue.

The committee scheduled a work session with the Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 20, in the board room at Town Hall.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen has a regularly scheduled meeting on Aug. 17, at which time the Budget and Finance Committee will give a report and seek input from the entire board on their priorities for expenses and revenue.

The goal, according to Alderman Darrell Bryan, chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee, is to have a budget proposal for consideration by the Board of Mayor and Alderman at a called meeting on Aug. 24.

The audience on Thursday included Mayor W.T. Daniels, who appointed the committee shortly after being elected last month; Alderman Keith Paxton; and Bill Isbell and Alderman Buddy Hawk, both members of the Parks and Recreation Department Advisory Board.

Town Recorder Jim Warner told the committee that the latest figures show Greeneville's projected revenues at $20,094,426, but its projected expenses at $21,109,749, leaving a shortfall of $1,015,323.

Butch Patterson, Parks and Recreation director, submitted budget cuts that resulted in savings of $46,918, reducing the shortfall to $968,405.

Patterson's cuts reduced his department's expenses by $98,418 and reduced revenue by $51,500.

The reduced expenses included:

* $60,588 for leasing concessions;

* $28,260 for adjusting the schedules of the department's two swimming pools; and

* $9,570 for delaying until Nov. 1 the hiring of a new athletic director.

Leasing concessions would reduce revenue by $42,500, and the pool changes would reduce revenue by $9,000, Patterson said.

He explained that the pool openings would be "staggered" so the Hardin Park pool would be open from late May through early July, and the EastView pool would be open from late June through August.

The Recreation Department would operate both pools together for just two weeks -- the last week of June and the first week of July, Patterson said.

He said most municipalities in the area operate just one public swimming pool.

The committee also met with Public Works Director David Martin and continued discussion on ways to adjust salaries.

At the request of the committee on Wednesday, Danelle Sells, payroll clerk, presented proposed changes to the Public Works salary structure.

The proposed new structure showed hourly wage ranges with skilled employees reaching the maximum in 5.5 years, or seven pay steps, as opposed to two years, or four pay steps, under the current salary structure.

For example, a basic-skills mechanic makes $11.40 an hour at step 2 under the current structure and would make $11.26 an hour at step 2 under the proposed structure.

If approved by the Board of Mayor Aldermen, the changes would take effect when an employee reaches a new pay step, Warner said.

Cutting out this year's salary step increases, across the board, would result in estimated savings of $80,000, Warner said.

Salary or job cuts, a property-tax increase, and charging for residential garbage pickup were listed as three options for balancing the budget.

"We've cut pretty much everything we can cut," Chairman Bryan said of the committee's recent meetings with department heads and reviews of the town's finances.

Committee member Bob Windham explained that 80 percent of the town's expenses are related to salaries, and the other 20 percent are for services, which are budgeted very conservatively.

If personnel cuts aren't made the only option will be to increase revenues, according to the committee.

Raising property taxes to cover a $1 million shortfall would require a 25-cent increase in the town's property-tax rate, Warner told the committee.

A property-owner whose property is valued at $100,000 would pay $62.50 more a year under a 25-cent increase, Warner said.

Under the proposed residential garbage collection fees, a property-owner would pay between $96 and $180 a year, depending on the monthly fee.

A monthly fee of $12, or $144 per year, would generate an estimated annual revenue of $900,000, according to information presented by Martin.

The committee asked Aldermen Paxton and Hawk for their comments on the revenue options.

Alderman Paxton said he thinks the property-tax increase would be fairer, because it is based on the amount of property a citizen owns.

Warner said the committee should consider what the citizens are most able to afford, noting that property-tax delinquencies have doubled this year.

Alderman Hawk said, "It needs to be the best thing for the citizens."