Mayhem reigned at last night at Coatesville's public budget hearing with two council members walking out midway through the two-hour meeting and a third rushing home to gather up previous year's budgets in a dispute over just how much financial detail should be in the budget.

Going into last night's meeting earlier versions of the budget projected a general fund deficit of $2.28 million, but in the version presented last night that deficit had disappeared by rolling back expenses from $10.8 million to $10.3 million and increasing projected revenues by $1.8 million. City Manager Harry Walker said the earlier version was too conservative. He said the additional $1.8 million would come from land sales, mainly the Conti Property which he said the city now has an agreement of sale for $1.3 million.

Problems arose early in the meeting with council members Ed Simpson, Marty Eggleston, and Stephanie Smith-Dowridge complaining the budget lacked detailed information they needed to make an informed decision. Most of the argument centered on why a list of individual salaries was not part of the budget. City Manager Ricky Dean insisted, however, that the budget was prepared exactly as it had been in previous years. Simpson disagreed and announced he was going home to get copies of the prior budget.

"There is no detail here," said Simpson, who then announced he was going home to gather up previous years' budget to prove his point. "Stay here. I'll be back in ten minutes."

But before Simpson returned, Eggleston got up and left the meeting. Earlier, Eggleston had complained the meeting was disorganized. "Why are we sitting here waiting for someone to get a piece of paper," he asked. Dean had left the meeting to get missing paperwork. "We've been here 25 minutes and we haven't done anything," said Eggleston. "I feel like my time is being wasted."

Then, a few minutes after Simpson had departed, Eggleston stood up and said he, too, was going home to get something. "Are you coming back," asked Council Member Kareem Johnson. Responded Eggleston: "Not tonight. We should be ashamed of ourselves."

Dean said that a complete salary list had been provided to Council President Patsy Ray at one of the two budget workshops held last week. Dean had scheduled the two workshops to allow department heads to publicly present their budget requests. However, Ray changed the format and little discussion took place.

"This is a typical budget. If council wants to do it differently, tell us . . . show me what you want," said Dean.

Ray agreed Dean had provided her with the salary list, but when she asked Walker about it, he informed her it was not correct. "When I asked Harry if it was right, he said there would changes so I didn't give it to everyone," Ray said.

Smith-Dowridge said she understood the budget process was fluid and there would be changes. "If at one point everyone is getting four-percent (increases) if should be here. If it changes to three percent let me see what that is. We have a right to get accurate information and we're not getting it. We continue to play word games," said Smith-Dowridge, who shortly afterwards got up and let the meeting, too.

Then Simpson returned with an armload of three-ring binders of previous budget. "Here let me show the detail," he said, opening up one of the binders in front of Dean.

But, Johnson questioned what good was all the detail when those same budgets failed to show the city was outspending revenues and building up a $7 million budget deficit that forced the previous council to draw down $13 million from the Trust Fund.

"I don¹t understand why your saying the (previous) budgets were so great when there was huge deficits," Johnson said.

Outside audits have shown that then City Manager Paul Janssen was too aggressive in estimating the timetable for the city's then estimated $800 million revitalization and had drawn down on bond revenues to pay city operating expenses.

The next person to leave the meeting was Dean. "I have to apologize," he said, "I have a nine o'clock commitment and I was told this meeting would only last an hour-and-a-half," he said. That left Walker, Ray, Johnson, Simpson and Council Member Kurt Schenk the only ones remaining. Council Member Robin Scott was not present for any part of the meeting.

Walker said he had planned to present a power-point presentation at the Dec. 10 council meeting. Now, he said, that might have to be delayed because council wants a second public budget hearing.

Following the meeting, Walker said city finances were in good order. "We are not on the rocks," he said. He said there are several land sales in the works that will return the RDA to solvency. Last month the city had to pay a $35,000 interest payment on a $7 million line of credit the RDA had taken out to purchase property needed for revitalization.

Last year Walker projected covering a $1.2 million deficit from the sale of city-owned property. When that sale didn¹t materialize, Walker the city laid of seven employees. He said there will be no layoffs next year. He added the city did sell back to A. Duie Pyle the property at routes 340 and 82 for close to $700,000. He said that money was credited to the 2007 budget. "The money is in the bank," he said.