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WAYNESVILLE — Despite a new financial director and city manager team that's developed a plan to bring the village of Waynesville back into the black, residents there have formed a political action committee to do away with the village charter and city manager's position.

Members of the Concerned Coalition for Better Government for Waynesville acknowledge that the village's $5 million debt was incurred under a different staff, but say they still want the village to become a home rule community to give the mayor and council greater control.

If the coalition gets enough signatures for their petition, voters will decide the matter on the November ballot.

"When we were in the old form of government, we weren't in debt like we are now," said resident Virgil Wilkerson.

Resident Pete Stemple spoke in defense of village Manager Bruce Snell and in keeping a charter.

"When I first came here, we were under a mayor form of government," Stemple said. "We moved to have a charter form of government and it was the best thing we've ever done. I would hate to see us go back to the old days."

Snell said he understands the frustrations of residents who have watched prior administrations' fiscal mismanagement of the village.

"It's their village, their town to have run however they see fit, as long as their participating in that process," Snell said. "I support whatever decision they would make."

Meantime, bickering between Mayor Earl Isaacs and other council members dominated council's July 7 meeting, when Isaacs initially voted not to approve the village's estimated 2009 annual budget, stating that he didn't feel "prepared enough" to vote on it.

"It's an assumption," Isaacs said. "I have a hard time voting on an assumption."

Financial Director Staci Morris told Isaacs that the state already reviewed and concurred with the budget. She said budget estimations are proper procedure and that council will vote on the actual budget at year's end.

Council President Sandra Stemple said the village would lose funding if the estimated budget wasn't approved.

"It's done everywhere," she said. "You just cost the village $50,000."

Council then voted to reconsider the initial vote, re-voted and unanimously approved the budget.