Residents voiced opinions Tuesday night about what the City of Raleigh should include in crafting its 2009-2010 budget.

From buses to parks, people told council members what they would like to see funded.

Mary Freeman, President of the Tammy Lynn Center in Raleigh, said she hopes the City will increase funding for the center, which provides support and education for people with developmental disabilities.

"The services that you enable are really, really critical," she told City Council.

Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker said with the economy, this year the City will instead be looking at what items to cut instead of what to add.

Meeker said about half of the budget is money for public safety, which, he said, is critical for City residents.

"The things you end up looking at are programs you may not fund in terms of economic development and some of your smaller capital projects," he said.

Meeker said City Council has typically not raised property taxes in a recession, and will look to keep the tax rate steady again next year.

Meeker said City Manager Russell Allen must present a draft by mid-May and City Council must pass its budget by July 1.