Omaha City Councilman Chuck Sigerson remains in critical condition Monday night at Lakeside Hospital. There's been no change in his status since his stroke and heart attack Saturday night. At the same time, his colleagues are trying to figure out how to balance a budget without his vote, his influence and without big tax increases.

\When five council members stood shoulder-to-shoulder almost two weeks ago, it made for a powerful statement. Their message was one of "let's consider other options rather than taxing our way out" of the city's budget shortfall.

Chuck Sigerson was with them when they talked furloughs for city employees. On August 19 Chuck Sigerson said, "I think almost everyone in the city government would say, 'Hey, I'd rather take a Friday off and keep my benefits than get laid off and maybe never be given the opportunity to come back.'"

While a comeback remains unclear for the third term councilman, his presence as a fifth vote is important. It takes five votes out of seven council members to pass anything involving revenue changes.

So with Sigerson not available to vote, the council would still need five votes in many cases. Five votes out of the now six active council members.

"It makes it harder to adopt a budget because you don't have as much leeway in getting all the council," says Omaha City Clerk Buster Brown.

The city council could delay the vote for a week before the state deadline nears but many believe that wouldn't change a thing. Even if Councilman Sigerson begins to get better many of his co-workers believe it's unlikely he would be back in his seat a week from now.

Pete Festersen is among the five council members who stood with Sigerson earlier in the month. "The dynamics have changed due to the events of the last few days. I'm hopeful the council can still support an alternative that doesn't raise taxes."

Mayor Jim Suttle seems to understand that his budget now has a better chance of succeeding if the council is unable to reach a consensus.
"From their perspective you can see it's a little more of a difficult challenge," says Mayor's Spokesman Ron Gerard.

So why can't the city wait a few weeks or months since this is the 2010 budget? The state has set a deadline of September 20 to certify the property tax rate. And since that falls on a Sunday -- Omaha must turn the paperwork in on September 18.

That leaves less than three weeks for the council to vote, for the mayor to consider vetoes and then the council to try to override any of those vetoes.

The council is expected to vote on the budget Tuesday afternoon at city hall. The meeting starts at 2pm in the Legislative Chambers of City Hall.