Because an agreement was not reached during September budget talks on which city positions to eliminate, Mayor Laurence Leyens, South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman and North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield will again have to address the city’s looming budget deficit in its allocation for payrolls.

&#8220There’s more people on the books today than we’ve allowed for in the budget,” Leyens said Monday. &#8220We’ll either have to amend our budget or remove people or both.”

Leyens said city officials will meet again around Nov. 29 to talk about what to do.

During budget preparations, officials said about 40 positions would have to be cut to balance the books. Since then, about 24 vacant positions have been eliminated, five people lost jobs in the human services department and two secretarial positions were eliminated.

Lamar Horton, city human resources director, said he could not say exactly how many more positions will be cut.

Horton said before the seven employees were terminated, the city was around $650,000 to $700,000 over budget for payroll. Now the city is about $450,000 to $500,000 over budget, he said

Horton said there are about 520 employees on the city payroll. He said city board members will have to decide which positions to eliminate, if any.

&#8220I assume on the 29th we’re going to review how many positions are funded versus how many people are on payroll,” Leyens said.

He said first-quarter revenue will also determine how many positions will need to be cut.

If there’s growth, terminations may not be needed. &#8220We budgeted for the same revenue as last year,” Leyens said. &#8220We always end up with more revenue than we budget.”

He said that means the city does not necessarily have to make all the cuts right now.

&#8220I know we’re not in any kind of crisis situation,” Leyens said.

However, Leyens said the problem will most likely need to be addressed within the next 12 months.

The mayor also said city officials are looking at training current employees to take over the duties of Paul Rogers, strategic planner, starting next fall, or contracting out some of Roger’s work to eliminate his position.

Rogers, a 30-year city employee and former city clerk, is the highest-paid person on the municipal payroll, having received a $50,000 increase to more than $150,000 this year. He has said he intends to retire in 2006.