Preliminary discussion of the city’s 2010 budget Monday raised a number of ideas but made clear the fact that any plan will be under tight time constraints.

City council members discussed the possibility of furloughs and union contract renegotiations, among other ideas, knowing that they will have to settle on a budget between when Gov. Tim Pawlenty announces his final unallotment plans — expected by July — and a Sept. 8 deadline.

This tight window was cited by Mayor Tom Stiehm as a reason for getting to work on the budget now.

“Doing nothing is not an option, obviously,” he said.

However, First Ward council member Brian McAlister said it would be ineffective to go much farther with budget talks now without having Pawlenty’s decision at-hand.

There was general agreement among council members to get more community feedback into the process.

Dick Pacholl, council member from Ward 2, said getting more people to meetings will generate more ideas.

“I wish we could get the public down to talk to us,” he said.

Public involvement could come in the form of ward meetings, which were discussed Monday. No formal dates were set.

Furloughs, or time off without pay, were brought up as a money saving tactic, though some were worried they could cut into city services. City administrator Jim Hurm added that he has received some feedback regarding voluntary furloughs.

Contract renegotiations would require the city’s six under-contract unions to open up their contracts.

Discussion would then center around 3 percent pay increases already worked into these contracts and whether workers would be willing to forego them.

Budget requests are expected to be sent to city departments this week.

Also discussed Monday was the possibility of increasing sewer usage fees in Austin. A rate increase, which hasn’t occurred since 2001, would help provide public works with more secure funding for potential projects.

According to a 2008 study, Austin’s wastewater system was 12th cheapest among 42 responding cities in the state.

Most council members agreed that an increase would be in order, but more precise numbers are still needed from public works before an exact increase is settled on.