But with several large uncertainties in Sunnyvale's financial future, the final results of that budget are still unknown.

An uncertain state budget, not knowing how much the downtown redevelopment project will generate in the future and the proposed 911 fee are some questions left for the city to deal with and may result in a dramatic reevaluation of the budget within the next six months.

"These days with the economic situation the way it is, and the state playing the shell game with local funds, we need to continue to be as vigilant as we have been," Sunnyvale communications officer John Pilger said.

Part of the city's $206 million budget includes some $2 million that could be generated by a small monthly 911 fee added to residents' phone bills if implemented by the council, but the budget report says that due to questions about the fee's implementation, it is possible that the money will not enter the revenue pool.

There is still $1.1 million of expenses that must be cut in the next year, with another $2.3 million to be cut annually until 2011. The city has not identified where these cuts will come from yet, but is looking at options including the reevaluation of core service levels for key programs and a search for new sources of money.

This year's budget was influenced, however, by the few residents who showed up at public discussion meetings and the lengthy discussions between council and city staff.

Vice Mayor Dean Chu said the public's involvement this year—through a series of open meetings in April and May—helped teach the entire community about the budget process, giving residents and council members alike a better idea of what needs to be done to run the city efficiently in the next year.

"The city staff did a great job in providing the public and us with more information this year," Chu said. "I believe that government is something that shouldn't be held in secret, but should be something people are able to understand."

Pilger credited the lack of cuts this year to the fact that Sunnyvale plans on a 20-year timeline and planning done in the past few years included the cutting of many unfilled positions.

"We're in a position where what we implemented last year and the belt-tightening that we did is carrying us through to where we are now," Pilger said. "It's one of the benefits of long-term budgeting."

Of those positions cut last year, several for the department of public safety were restored this year: $1.1 million went toward public safety to restore two officers to the special operations vice and narcotics division and one full-time internal-affairs investigator. Grant money was also used to create one new hazardous materials inspector position. However, not all public safety positions were restored.

Former Vice Mayor Tim Risch, who was criticized last year for voting for the initial public safety cuts, said it seems as if the council is acting more moderately this time around, recognizing that while restoration of some positions were necessary, some of the cuts were needed.

Chu said that the changes made this year—along with the public's involvement—have hopefully started the city moving in the right direction, but everyone involved agreed that the coming changes to the city and state financial situation will dictate the direction Sunnyvale ultimately travels.