The Minneapolis City Council lopped firefighters and cops from the payroll, and it restricted the spending of neighborhoods.

But when it comes to making cuts to its own budget, the council so far has been slow to act.

The council was supposed to share proportionately in a $113,000 cut imposed last year on the city clerk's budget, in which the council budget resides. But that never happened, in part because vacancies in the clerk's office saved the money.

But the cut repeated for 2011, and the council still isn't ready to cut its own spending. It diverted $60,000 from redistricting money set aside elsewhere in the clerk's budget to again avoid making the cut.

So is the council shirking its duty? "It seems that way," said Council Member Cam Gordon, who says he'd like to see the council do its share. Gordon and others said there have been behind-the-scenes discussions about how to cut the council budget, but no consensus has emerged. He said that leaves him irritated.

"It was a little thing that got my goat," he said. Gordon, Elizabeth Glidden and Lisa Goodman voted against the diversion.

Just how much the council spends is not very visible, despite the council's adoption last year of "transparency, accountability and fairness" as city strategies. The size of the council budget is not broken out within the budget of the city clerk's office, which totals $8.2 million.

Council President Barbara Johnson said she knows that the council will need to restructure operations to save money, but in an interview she gave no timetable for that. The council uses most of its budget to pay the almost 40 people who staff the 13 council offices, which generally consist of a council member and a staff of two.

The 11th and 13th ward offices share two half-time workers who handle calls for both wards. That saves money that can be used for other ward expenses.

Steve Brandt • 612-673-4438