11.   But the stalling economy and now the cost of heightened security have wiped out nearly all that the seaport and airport contribute to the city budget.

12.   City Attorney Steve Fincher says the city will find a way to pay the money without wrecking the city budget.

13.   Congress last year created a financial control board to oversee city budgets after years of overspending and overhiring.

14.   Consolidation of the three police forces has been a goal of many mayors, including Rudolph Giuliani, and was authorized under the city budget approved in June.

15.   Even Dear does not want the police ticketing every pedestrian-voter who walks on red, no matter how far it might go to balancing the city budget.

16.   Even if the referendum suddenly disappeared, however, the city budget is now launched into uncharted territory.

17.   First, there is the city budget.

18.   He has no clear successor as the deputy mayor for Operations, responsible for day-to-day management of government and for negotiating the city budget.

19.   He said he would support paying city employees more, within the constraints of the city budget.

20.   He tried to get funding for a crime victims co ordinator in the city budget now un der consideration.