The news coming from yesterday’s meeting between Mayor Jerry Abramson and Metro Council Budget Committee chair Jim King has an air of cooperation to it that’s making us suspicious.

It’s hard to believe the Mayor is softening a little, or just trying to develop a better relationship with the Council. But after yesterday’s sit-down with King, there was nary a negative statement in tone from either side. Abramson told the C-J that he would go along with most of the changes proposed by the Council.

Huh?

Ask the Water Company for money? Sure, the Mayor will be glad to ask for it. Downtown Development Corp. money? Yep, might be able to do that. Bonding $3.5 million in projects rather than paying in cash? Good idea, says Jerry. And he’ll be glad to hire back all those Nieghborhood Place managers to the tune of $600K, as the Council requested.

King sent a post-meeting e-mail that included 19 points, many of which began with the phrase “he did not object….”  and concluded with King’s thank you to Abramson for being included in the budget.

Given the acrimonious tone of Council vs. Abramson communications in the past, this is a genuine surprise.

King says the budget will likely pass on a near-unanimous vote tonight.