PORTAGE | There was good news and bad news Tuesday from the City Council Budget Committee.

The good news is the city doesn't expect to have to lay off any employees next year. The bad news is, despite the city's growth, it won't be adding any new positions either.

Committee members and Mayor Olga Velazquez reviewed the budget Tuesday night. Their goal is to hold the line as much as possible on operating expenses for next year. They will stay the same as advertised for this year's budget. That might allow the city to give present employees some sort of raise.

It is even tougher this year, they said, because the 2008 budget isn't expected to be certified by the state until December and they don't know what last-minute cuts they may face. In addition, because of property tax caps, the city is expected to lose $300,000 from its 2009 budget.

However, the committee wouldn't talk specifics on contract negotiations. While negotiations have been completed with fire and police employees, the panel is awaiting word from the Operating Engineers Local 150, which represents streets and sanitation employees. It gave the union a noon Friday deadline to respond to the latest offer. The committee will meet again at 4:30 p.m. Friday to finalize the budget before it is presented to the full City Council on Aug. 5 for approval to advertise.

Velazquez made several suggestions. She suggested not filling open positions of assistant park superintendent and park director of building maintenance. She also suggested not filling a planning position in the planning department's office and a laborer's position in the street department. There are no employees in those positions presently.

The only job opening likely for next year will be a driver's position in the street department, which was there this year but went unfilled.

Velazquez also suggested cutting part-time pay in several city departments.

In addition, Velazquez suggested increasing salaries for the reservations and accounting clerks and director of sports management in the parks department. Because two positions have been eliminated, people in those three positions have picked up extra responsibilities and should be compensated.

She also asked for consideration in increasing the salary for the deputy clerk-treasurer, a position, she said that is underfunded compared to the difference between the salaries of other department heads and their assistants. She also asked for a raise for the human resources assistant because that position has taken on additional responsibilities.