Atlanta council members will consider buyouts, furloughs and additional budget cuts to avoid raising property taxes later this month.

The city has a $140 million projected shortfall for the fiscal year starting July 1. Mayor Shirley Franklin's $583.9 million budget proposal includes what she describes as a "modest" property tax increase to collect $40 million to help fill the gap.

The council is scheduled to hold the first of several meetings Thursday to work on the budget, which they are scheduled to adopt on June 27.

Council members in recent weeks have been exploring ways to raise much or all of the $40 million in one big chunk without increasing the property tax rate. But Councilman Howard Shook, chair of the finance/executive committee, said none of those options could be adopted before the June 30 deadline to pass the budget.

So now, council members are considering more modest ideas.

Many homeowners have verbally flogged council members for the city's budget problems and the proposed tax increase.

"It's almost a matter of principle now," said Councilman Ceasar Mitchell. "[Residents] feel like there's something in this budget we can cut."

The big question is whether the cuts will be enough to avoid a property tax increase. Council members say the work will be tough.

"A lot of the [cost-savings] ideas are tens of thousands, not tens of millions," said Shook.

Shook said he will search for existing vacancies that do not have to be filled. The council also has $2 million in its operating budget for next year that it could give to the city's general budget.

Shook said he favors the idea, but Councilman H. Lamar Willis said he's reluctant because the council's researchers would be affected the most, leaving the council less equipped to analyze proposals from Franklin's staff.

"It means we'd be less prepared to do [our jobs]," Willis said.

Willis thinks the council can create a permanent revenue source this year by hiring a company to sell food in city parks and rent items like in-line skates and bicycles. He'd also like to re-examine some agreements the city has made to lease space to other governments. For example, Willis noted, Atlanta leases a fire station to Sandy Springs for $1 a year.

"We should have sold it to them or leased it at market rate," Willis said.

Meanwhile, some council members are looking at the city's workforce for additional money-saving opportunities.

Councilmen Ceasar Mitchell and Jim Maddox are proposing buyouts for longtime city workers at or near retirement age.

Mitchell said furloughs might also be necessary. The city forced most workers to take five days off without pay in 2002 to deal with an $82 million budget deficit.

The Atlanta City Council has scheduled four meetings in the next three weeks to hear from residents about the budget and proposed property tax increase. All meetings will be held at City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave. Here's the schedule:

Mon., June 16, 6 p.m.: property tax increase public hearing.

Thu., June 19, 9 a.m.: public comment on budget.

Mon., June 23, noon and 6 p.m.: property tax increase public hearing.

Wed., June 25, 9 a.m.: public comment on budget.

Here's how Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin has proposed to cover the $140 million projected budget shortfall:

$57 million: layoffs, eliminating some vacant positions and transferring some city workers.

$40 million: property tax increase.

$28 million: increasing some fees and revenues.

$15 million: increasing revenue projections. reforming revenue anticipation policies.

Here's a breakdown of how much more money Atlanta homeowners will pay if the city approves an increase in the property tax rate from 8.92 mills to 9.35 mills.