Metro Council members sometimes criticize the Mayor's budget and showdowns between unions and the administration are common.  But there's also a spirit of cooperation as the city looks for ways to overcome a $20 million deficit.

City officials were briefing the Metro Council's Budget Committee Monday on the trends that show an even larger deficit this year than last.

With layoffs and cuts in city services possible, groups that are often at odds are trying to work together.

Metro Council budget hearings can become heated.  Council members often complain their ideas are left out when the mayor proposes his yearly budget.

Republican council member Kelly Downard says, "The mayor's asked us to take a good look at it and offer suggestions on what we think reductions ought to come from, and that's what we'll do."

Metro Council members, who met with the mayor before Monday's news conference, are anxious to help the administration find the least painful ways to cut spending.

Democratic council member Bob Henderson says of one project that may have to wait,, "It's a big project and it's something we really, really want to do."  Henderson is talking about Riverview Park -- a long-proposed park expansion that finally got some money in this year's budget.

Henderson says he is willing to delay work there and he hopes other council members will put their pet projects on hold to help save money:  "Every one of us has got projects that we're doing, maybe we don't need to do right now."

Teamsters President Denny Norris says of the mayor, "He used the term again, 'more with less.'"  He sighed and continued, "We're doing more and more with less and less."

Norris says last year's hiring freeze has already reduced city jobs to the point it's hard to keep up with garbage collection, repair roads, and other city services.  He's willing to discuss a deal: no raise for his members next year if it reduces layoffs and reduced working hours.  "Well, we'll consider that in lieu of furlough and what-have-you.  Our people live here.  This is our town.  We know what's going on."

City employees and their unions are also asked to submit cost-cutting or money-saving ideas.  Last year, some of their ideas helped  Metro Goverment overcome a $13 million deficit.

It appears a lot of groups are putting aside their differences to try to made do in hard economic times.