An Atlanta City Council committee voted Wednesday to try to delay previously approved changes that would give Mayor Shirley Franklin greater authority over city spending.

Finance/executive committee member Councilwoman Felicia Moore last month proposed a charter amendment that would delay a plan passed by the City Council in 2006 that increases the amount of money Franklin's staff can spend without a council vote. Moore said the council needs greater oversight of city spending in the wake of Atlanta's budget problems. The full council will consider the committee's recommendation Monday.

The council members' change of course comes after Franklin and her aides said they encountered a $140 million shortfall as they prepared their budget proposal. The mayor plans to close the gap by laying off 441 city workers, cutting 347 vacancies, raising some fees and a tax increase. Atlanta Chief Financial Officer Janice Davis has estimated the increase would be $43.48 for each $100,000 of assessed value of property, if it receives a homestead exemption.

The mayor's staff now can award any contract worth less than $100,000 without council approval. That amount is to increase to $300,000 in October, according to council staff.

Greg Pridgeon, Franklin's chief of staff, warned the mayor will veto the legislation if it is approved. He said the changes would allow the mayor to work more quickly with companies offering services to the city. Pridgeon said not increasing the spending limit is akin to using a typewriter when a computer is available. "We believe [delaying the changes] . . . is like going backwards to that typewriter," he said.

Councilwoman Cleta Winslow disagreed, saying citizens want the council to assert greater oversight of city spending. "We're going to continue using the typewriter until we know how the computer is going to work."

As for a veto, Moore said, "I'm not scared of a veto."

On Tuesday, Franklin vetoed three items the council passed last week: One put rookie police on foot patrols in the two highest-crime zones; another gave the council more authority to review salary increases; another requested an audit of Atlanta's water and sewer funds before any changes to customer rates. Franklin is expected to deliver a letter today explaining the vetoes. Her staff wasn't immediately available to comment.