Butler Mayor Tom Donaldson stressed the urgency for changes regarding the city’s financial condition at Thursday’s city council meeting.

Donaldson read aloud a report on the state of the city of Butler. He spoke on negotiations for union contracts.

“We need to remember we are the stewards of the public,” Donaldson said. “We are not the buddies of the union employees. We are not their enemies, but we are management and all members need to remember that. We need to seek contracts more in line with the private sector.”

Donaldson spoke further on the city’s financial state.

“Our financial issues have not changed in the last 20 years,” he said. “We continue to be overrun by nonprofits. Our revenues continue to be flat while expenses continue to rise.”

Donaldson has mentioned nonprofits being an issue before. He spoke out against the sale of Broad Street Elementary School to a nonprofit, saying that about 40 percent of the city’s properties are tax-exempt and the city can’t afford to lose any more of its tax base to nonprofits.

Monetizing the city’s parking was offered by Donaldson as a possible way to generate revenue. He wants to follow the example of Scranton, Pa.

In Aug. 2016, Scranton leased its garage and on-street parking to the National Development Council, and in return received $32 million up front by NDC affiliate Housing and Economic Development Corporation.

Donaldson said he wants to do something similar, where the city leases parking to nonprofits in exchange for payment up front, as well as annual profits.

He also said the city needs to have a study on parking monetization done before any further action can be taken.

Councilman Michael Walter, the city’s director of accounts and finance, responded to Donaldson’s report and reflected on his first year on council.

“It was a learning curve for me, and I thought I could do better and I thought the city could do better,” he said. “I think we can do better on this, and this year we are going to do better on it.”

Donaldson also spoke on the Butler Fire Department, and addressed a need to name a new fire chief. The city has been without a fire chief since Nick Ban retired in April.

Councilman and director of public safety Kathy Kline responded to Donaldson’s comments.

“Our fire department is just as strong as it has ever been,” she said. “They continue to keep the city safe, and there is no doubt in my mind, eventually we will have a fire chief.”

Donaldson also reflected on paved streets and PennDOT replacing the West Cunningham Street bridge.

“Butler looks good and is alive and well,” he said. He stressed the importance for regular street paving to continue.

“Even one year not paving will lead to increased costs when starting back,” he said.

Donaldson also spoke positively about the Marriott Spring Hill Suites, which is set to be open this spring, and the Penn Theater, which the Penn Theater Performance Company is working to revitalize.

Councilman Corey Roche responded to Donaldson’s report.

“I think that we’re making some progress, taking some baby steps,” he said. “We still have a lot to do, though. I don’t think it’s generally as bleak as people always make it out to be.”