There is still no resolution to report yet between the city and its unions. But all parties say they're willing to work together, and in the process, look at some alternative ways and thinking to plug a roughly $585,000 budget hole.
Representatives from the City's Fire, Police and Public Works unions came to a special council meeting Wednesday.
The most vocal comments came from the head of the fire union, Scott Townsend.
He pushed the need to keep cuts to a minimum to protect public safety.
And still opposes the idea of cutting the department's Deputy Chief.
He wants the city council to take a closer look at the revenue side of the budget instead of always focusing on expenses.
Mayor George Gaulrapp says he's willing to sit down and talk about these issues.
But he doesn't buy the idea that it's all about slashing expenses.
"We're looking at the performance side coupled with cuts. I mean we see it without our industry, we see it throughout our nation, people losing their jobs, doing more with less," Gaulrapp said.
"I just think the city has a long history of making cuts, cuts cuts and not looking intelligently at revenue," Townsend said.
Townsend says his union is willing to consider the wage concessions raised by city leaders. But not before exploring possible new revenue streams.
The city also heard briefly Wednesday from the police and public works unions.
They've both proposed a list of alternative cutbacks and revenue sources that are still being reviewed.
The city has to approve the budget by June 30th.