As the Atlanta City Council prepares to vote on its budget, a dozen ministers Thursday urged them not to raise property taxes or layoff more employees.

"We've had enough layoffs. We don't want taxes increased," the Rev. Gerald Durley, pastor of Providence Baptist Church, said during a prayer vigil at City Hall, organized by Concerned Black Clergy.

An hour later, Atlanta police union leaders gathered at City Hall to criticize Councilman Ceasar Mitchell's idea to make most city workers take six days off without pay in the next 12 months. Mitchell says such furloughs would save the city $7.5 million as the council attempts to come up with $40 million in savings to avert a tax increase.

But police Sgt. Scott Kreher argues the furloughs would hurt public safety.

"I think Mr. Mitchell needs to go around and ask his constituents what's the best day of the week for you to go without a police officer," said Kreher, president of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, Local 623. "I think the answer would be no days."

Mayor Shirley Franklin's proposed budget is $583.9 million. She laid off 441 city workers, eliminated 347 vacant positions and announced plans to raise some fees as part of her plan to fill most of a $140 million projected budget shortfall. She proposed a property tax increase to raise the remaining $40 million.

Council is scheduled to vote on the budget at a 9:30 a.m. meeting Friday. Atlanta's budget year begins July 1 and ends June 30.

Council members are trying to find ways to avert a property tax increase on homeowners. The council last week approved the Franklin administration's plan to raise water rates by about 70 percent over the next four years.

The ministers said they are struggling to provide more services to congregations as a result of the budget cuts in areas such as parks, recreation and cultural affairs. They also noted some of the laid off city workers are their church members.

"The people that were laid off sit in our pews," said the Rev. Timothy McDonald, pastor of First Iconium Baptist Church. "It affects our churches."

The ministers suggested city leaders think more creatively about providing services for less money.

The Rev. Raphael Warnock, senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, said he fears additional cuts will hurt the city's less affluent residents.

"We want to push [city leaders] to make sure that the same politics that operates in Washington, D.C. that would balance budgets on the backs of the poor does not operate in the city of Atlanta," he said.

Atlantans can speak out about the city's proposed budget at a public hearing scheduled for 6 p.m. at City Hall in the council chamber, 55 Trinity Avenue.