New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin's budget vetoes came and went on Wednesday as the City Council voted to override his cuts.   And just like that, in a six-to-one vote, the council opted to do away with the mayor's proposed $18 million worth of budget cuts.

"I don't think it moves the city forward," said Nagin.  "If anything it moves us backwards."

The council's actions essentially resurrect the $1.1 billion version of the budget they approved more than two weeks ago -- the same version Nagin warned could lead to a financial disaster.

"In 2010, you are headed for a train wreck," said Nagin, following the council's initial passage of the city budget on December 1.

The council's override does away with a long list of the mayor's cuts -- giving $600,000 back to the District Attorney's Office.

"You have given me the tools that I will need to the job that I think has to be done in the city of New Orleans starting in 2009," said Leon Cannizzaro, District Attorney.

The City Council even tacked on an additional $700,000 for the district attorney, while undoing the mayor's $1.7 million budget cut for the Office of the Public Defenders.

"Which deals with the poorest and most disadvantaged of our citizens as it relates to quality legality services," said Councilman James Carter.

But the budget battle is far from over.

"There are some things right now that we do not control," said Council Vice President Arnie Fielkow.

The council, legally, can't do anything about the mayor's decision to cut enhanced street sweeping in the French Quarter.  So next month, the council is looking to make deep budget cuts of their own in hopes of freeing up dollars to persuade the mayor to restore those services.

"With the exception of public safety, sanitation, and recreation, the council has agreed to a 5.58 reduction of every city department's budget," said Council Budget Chair Cynthia Hedge-Morrell.

If approved, the move would save the city about $4.7 million dollars.  Nagin, however, says when it comes to city services, the savings  will cost you.

"It's definitely going to make for longer lines, fewer people answering the phones, you name it it's going to impact the city."

The council also hopes to cut $2 million from the city's take-home car program.

"W are exercising tremendous fiscal responsibility in the wake of what could be a budget crisis in future years," said Councilwoman Shelley Midura.

The council's future plans are also expected to free up the $500,000 needed to complete a full-fledged audit of the sanitation department.

The Nagin administration is expected to release their own report on the department next week, but council members say it will likely be inadequate since it falls short of actually reviewing each of the city's three garbage contracts.  Nagin disagrees, saying the council's audit is unnecessary.

"I think it's a waste of money," said Nagin.  "One of things the council does sometimes, before they receive a report they make a judgment on the report."

Councilwoman Cynthia Willard-Lewis was the lone vote when it came to supporting the mayor's vetoes---saying with communities still struggling to rebuild, now is not the time for even deeper department cuts.  The council takes up the issue of the cuts on January 8, and if approved council members say the cuts would bring the city's emergency fund back up to $38 million without having to use the last of a $10 million emergency federal loan.