The budget season may soon draw to a close, pending council approval Thursday.

Despite a few minor bumps, the 2007-2008 city manager recommended budget review process went smoothly compared with last year's tense one, city councilors said.

Two different factors changed this year - a new city manager and a different protocol.

Auburn city councilors told city manager Mark Palesh what items they wanted to look at and he put them on a list and moved on. Last year, then manager John Salomone and the councilors battled out points during council meetings, in front of the public and cameras. Palesh met with councilors one on one to discuss specific points.

Councilor William Graney credits Palesh's style for why this budget season has been better. The one-on-one sessions allowed the councilors to make suggestions and share concerns without the watchful eye of the television cameras, and without the pressure of politics.

“Last year, unions were going against unions. I don't know if it was by design but it was extremely tense. There were people picketing. It wasn't a pretty picture,” Graney said.

The budget is $71,000 higher for the $31.1 million general fund than originally proposed in May. The proposed tax rate under the new plan remains unchanged from last year.

Thursday's meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Memorial City Hall on South Street.

Council will also vote whether to accept a revised fee schedule.

Councilor Matt Smith campaigned to remove permit requirements for homeowners buildings decks, replacing windows and doors and remodeling rooms.

Palesh lowered the base permit fee from its current $40 level to $25.

Palesh had proposed a new fee for banners, but he reduced that recommendation from $100 to $35. Currently, organizations do not pay to hang banners.

Another change regards ground water discharged to the sewer fee, which will go up 83 cents to $4.78 per 100 cubic feet.

In other business:

€ The downtown could have 11 more parking kiosks for Genesee Street and one in the Seward House parking lot if council agrees Thursday. Ber-National, of Syracuse, will provide the city will the kiosks for nearly $83,850. The city would fund the purchase and installation through the downtown renovation account.

€ Fire Chief Michael Hammon requested the council vote whether to upgrade on the Auburn Fire Department's 1989 fire engine.

Hammon estimates the cost of the new vehicle will be no more than $360,000. He also stated that the city has spent $30,000 over the past five years maintaining it.