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ATTLEBORO - While some councilors feared midyear cuts when the budget was approved last June, Mayor Kevin Dumas says the city is expected to weather any financial stresses remaining in the last six months of fiscal year 2009.

Steep cuts, including 14 jobs and cash reductions in most departments, were made to the $105 million fiscal year 2009 budget in June with the aim of avoiding any midcourse corrections. So far, it's worked, Dumas said as he and his staff started work on fiscal year 2010 spending plan.

"We made reductions in June in order not to have to make cuts in 2009. And I don't see us having to cut back further in 2009," he said. "We're on target with revenue reductions that we predicted and planned for."

The same has not been true for all cities and towns, so Dumas said he is grateful.

"Some of the smaller towns have had more of a problem with this," he said. But now there's next year to deal with, and there are many unknowns for fiscal year 2010, which begins on July 1.

With the economy in a perilous slide and mutterings on Beacon Hill that the state might cut as much as 10 percent from lottery distributions, more financial pain is likely.

Dumas said he and Budget Director Barry LaCasse are making contingency plans if the 10 percent figure becomes a reality.

For Attleboro, that would mean a loss of $782,000 in unrestricted cash that's used to support a range of city services.

While it seems likely more jobs will be cut, Dumas said the aim is to retain employees and the services they provide.

"At this point, it's very important to keep our people employed," he said. "It's our main mission."

But at this point, the state's plans for education funding, which makes up more than 60 percent of the city's budget, are unknown. Cuts there would mean more jobs.

Dumas acknowledged the local, state and national economies are a huge concern, but the goal is to persevere and provide residents with the services they need despite hard times.

"We as a city are not exempt from the changes in the economy. We're in the midst of it, as is everyone else," he said. "However, it's not going to stop us from pushing forward and doing the work of the people.

"I'm still optimistic. We've overcome many hurdles in the last five years and I know we'll be able to manage through 2010." Council President Frank Cook is more pessimistic.

"I'm expecting the state to cut back," he said. "I think we have to be prepared not to get as many services as in the past."