After Monday's workshop, it seems that the council might be ready to approve amendments to the city's budget. The measure will cut expected revenue, to reflect the city's lost VLT money.

After conversations today with members of the council, it seems that Ivins has managed to line up up at least a 3-2 majority to vote for the budget.

By my straw poll, I figure that Commissioner of Finance Kenneth Ivins Jr. will vote for it because it will get the city through, and he doesn't want to delay. Mayor Scott Johnson will vote for it because the cuts he made in his department were accepted, pretty much as-is. Commissioner of Public Works Skip Scirocco will vote for it because he was able to make cuts without effecting essential services too greatly.

Then there are the Democrats.

Commissioner of Accounts John Franck will not vote for the budget because he thinks the cuts do not go far enough, and set the city up for a tough budget process for 2010.

Commissioner of Public Safety Ron Kim is the only member of the council about who's vote I'm not sure. On the one hand, he may vote against because his executive assistant -- who handles many clerical duties in the department -- would be cut by the amendment. On the other hand, he may vote for it because police and fire jobs are safe, and he wants those unions to back his Mayoral ambitions.

The vote is slated for July 7, and we shall see...