Since adoption of the 2012 budget, which took place in November, the municipality has had several positive things occur, explained Mark Romito, finance director.

The municipality was able to collect an additional $400,000 in earned income taxes, as well as experiencing an end of the year saving of $183,000 on utilities and an additional $743,000 in savings in the amount budgeted for supplies in 2011.

The result, Romito explained, is an additional $1.3 million in the fund balance which can be used for 2012 expenses possibly eliminating the need for a planned tax increase.

Residents packed council chambers Jan. 23 as council members met to discuss possible revisions to the budget.

The .75 increase would result in $1.4 million in income for the municipality, but the newly discovered $1.3 million could be used instead, explained Council President Tim Moury.

"Those two things are very close," said Moury, adding that municipal officials planned to work to tighten the budget even more.

"When we passed the budget, we said it was a work in progress," he said.

Council is expected to discuss the matter further at its February committee meeting.

After the budget was adopted, a group of residents, exercising the provisions of the Bethel Park Home Rule Charter which provides for the referendum process, began a petition drive. The group has until Feb. 7 to collect approximately 2,800 signatures in order to have a referendum placed on the May Primary ballot.

Dino Bello, one of those behind the referendum drive said he had talked to many residents while circulating petition and had listened to senior citizens crying at the prospect of losing their homes because they cannot afford a tax increase.

"It's pretty damn sad," Bello said.

Others, such as Dick Kraft, praised council and municipal staff, acknowledging their "integrity, knowledge and commitment," in guiding the municipality through tough economic decisions.

Romito explained that because, under provisions of the home rule charter, a budget must be adopted 60 days before the end of the year, the staff does not have all the end of the year figures and tends to budget very conservatively for the coming year, which usually tends to result in a well-funded fund balance.

Members of the tax repeal petition committee said they intend to continue with the petition drive in order to meet deadlines for a possible ballot referendum.

"Don't let up," said Councilman Don Harrison, the only council member to vote against the budget adoption and a member of the repeal committee.

"It's wonderful that we got this influx of cash," said Steve Bronco, a resident who attended the meeting to give ideas for ways to trim the budget.

Bronco said he and others have more ideas on ways to cut municipal spending.