Out of the roughly $23.2 million in the proposed 2004 operating budget for State College Borough Council, citizens commented on only $150,000 at last night's public hearing.

One line of the budget allocates $50,000 a year over three years for renovation of the State Theatre, 128 1/2 W. College Ave. Four out of five people who spoke to council were in favor of funding the project, which is estimated at $3 million total.

Mike Negra, president of State Theatre Inc., the non-profit organization raising funds for the renovation, said he expects 280 shows a year, including concerts, plays, dance performances and films, once the theater is complete.

"Our agenda is to be a community owned and operated performing arts center," Negra said.

He added that the type of programming would depend on what the public demands. There would be room for big-name musicians, but the theater's focus would be on local performers and filmmakers, he said.

Negra had asked for $300,000 originally, but that figure was cut in half.

State College resident Bob Balonis told council that funding State Theatre Inc.'s project is unfair to other non-profit groups.

He also said cutting the funds from the budget could help save the taxpayers from two increases proposed for 2004. These are a real estate tax increase of 0.4 mills and an increase in the earned income tax from 1.3 to 1.4 percent.

However, another resident, Michael Freeman, brought a stack of letters from his neighbors in support of the State Theatre project. He said the theater would help revitalize the downtown business and cultural environment, and "a vibrant town means vibrant neighborhoods."

Resident David Price said he has been involved in community theater since kindergarten, and there is currently no place besides high school gyms or cafeterias for small theater groups to go. He added that one of the best experiences of his acting career was when he got to perform in a real theater in his hometown.

"It wasn't Carnegie Hall ... but it was a real theater," Price said. "I could do that because the grownups around me cared enough to support that theater."

Jeff Helffrich agreed with Price, saying there is no good place in State College for local acting troupes to gain the necessary learning experience of performing in a large theater. He said council should support the endeavor.

Negra said he would be approaching the surrounding townships this month for funding as well. He said it would be the State Theatre of Centre County and would benefit communities throughout the area.

Council is scheduled to discuss the entire 2004 budget at three work sessions, two at noon Dec. 4 and Dec. 12 and one at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8, before voting on its approval Dec. 15.