The actions came hours before the board began talks to find a long-term solution to the county's fiscal troubles.

Donors know that in a time of fiscal trouble, all city activities must expect budget cuts.

Moreover, fiscal troubles in many states have crippled some programs.

To many budget monitors, the city's fiscal trouble started long before the attacks.

That helps to explain why Governments of all levels are in such fiscal trouble.

But neither does anyone want the city to stumble back into fiscal trouble.

Just last week, despite the fiscal troubles, 2,000 more police officers - paid for through special taxes - were hired.

But there are signs that the fiscal troubles both men face could create a rift in their relationship.

Both the city and the state are in serious fiscal trouble.

County officials say they also worry that the state, because of its own fiscal troubles, might pull back on local aid.