About 40 people attended an East Lansing City Council meeting and public hearing regarding the city budget Tuesday.

Though the meeting was held on campus at the Union's Gold Rooms A and B and allowed for public discussion of the coming year's budget, no MSU students were on hand to address the council during the public comment time.

During the meeting, the city's Human Relations Commission presented the council with recommendations for allotting the city's general fund money that comes from taxpayers.

Although cuts in city projects were suggested in order to balance the city budget, the commission did not recommend an increase in property taxes.

Due to an expected 2005 state budget deficit of $1.3 billion, local governments have received less funding. City Manager Ted Staton told the council the smaller state grants have had an effect on the city's budget.

The citywide budget decreased to $54 million this year, down 2.34 percent from last year.

In order to balance this year's budget, the commission recommended cutting some city projects, including road and building repairs and library funding.

After City Finance Director Gary Murphy presented the recommendations, many groups who requested state and local money addressed the council to express their monetary concerns.

Nancy Schertzing, executive director of the Community Relations Coalition, urged the council to look at granting more money to the group. The coalition works to improve relationships between students and permanent city residents. The city's commission recommended granting Schertzing's group $7,000 less than the group had asked for.

"I am here to make a case to you to help us with money so we can help your residents," she said.

The East Lansing City Council will discuss the commissions recommendations at next week's council work session and will adopt its official budget May 18.