Hamilton councillor Sam Merulla believes he has found another way to shave more money off the city's looming deficit.

The Ward 4 councillor proposes to get city employees out of their cubicles and into their homes.

With laptop computers, wireless technology and blackberrys, Mr. Merulla said "pen-to-paper" employees don't need an office to do their jobs effectively.

They can meet deadlines, and write their reports from home, or anywhere in the city with the benefit of inexpensive overhead, he said.

He suggested social service employees can use a laptop computer to input any data required after conducting home visits, while city planners can write their reports or meet clients at home rather than at city hall. If a meeting is required, Mr. Merulla said, it is easy enough to find a common room at city hall to gather people together.

"The potential savings are endless," he said. "We can save tens of millions of dollars on leases, cut down on our energy costs, and reduce our bricks and mortar expenses."

Then there are the environment savings, such as reducing Hamilton's carbon footprint, and easing traffic congestion, he said.

Hamilton councillors are facing a potential $7.6 million deficit at the end of the year, due in part to higher fuel costs and unexpected winter control costs. Mr. Merulla has already asked city staff to investigate the implementation of a four-day work week for employees.

Mr. Merulla said he has received "positive" feedback from employees about the idea. Municipal governments in the U.S., such as in Utah and Florida, are already establishing four-day work week pilot projects to reduce energy costs.

Mr. Merulla would like to see some action on his motion about telecommuting for employees from city staff before the 2009 budget deliberations begin later this year.

Mr. Merulla said Hamilton received media attention from CNN and CBS for at least considering the option.

"It showed Hamilton was a leader in something other than the number of smog days," he said.

With Hamilton undergoing an expensive city hall renovation project, Mr. Merulla said his idea is an opportunity for staff to restructure how city employees do their jobs. About 600 employees worked at the former city hall, while the city spends about $5 million to lease space for about 900 employees in various downtown buildings.

Instead of adding more costs to the $50-million renovation, the city can reduce it, he said. Mr. Merulla said the long-term plan to eventually construct an office tower to house even more employees in the back of the renovated city hall is "ridiculous."