The upcoming City Council budget will include $100,000 for use by council members for "consultants" on various issues.
Finance Committee Chairman Chip Henderson said the item could be mostly covered by using $92,000 that was allotted for a fourth staff member.
That post will not be filled and the council will continue to operate with three staffers.
Also, he said $4,500 budgeted for air cards (WiFi) for council members could be shifted for the consultants. He said council members could deduct money spent on air cards from their $3,000 monthly expense allotments.
Five of the nine council members use the air cards at an annual expense of about $5,000 total.
Councilwoman Carol Berz said it was agreed earlier that council members could go over the $3,000 limit, if necessary, without having to pay out of their own pockets.
She said in the past that the entire council was not using the total $27,000 per year in expense money and the excess was being turned back in.
She said the council has a small budget and should be using the total amount for district needs rather than turning it back in.
The council budget is due to be turned in to the city finance office by Friday.