State overseers approved Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's proposed budget today but drew the ire of Council President Doug Shields, who said his body has been shut out of deliberations.

The Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority board's unanimous approval allows the new mayor to present the $429 million budget to council next month with the state's stamp already on it. Last year Mayor Tom Murphy wasn't able to win the five-member panel's approval, and the city entered this year with a spending plan approved by council but not the state.

There has long been tension between the ICA and council over who has the ultimate say over the budget's details, and that boiled over today.

Council President Doug Shields called the panel "the Phantom Five," saying they "can't even be reached by us, the council of the city of Pittsburgh, let alone the residents we represent."

He waved a printout of an e-mail he sent Monday urging more consultation between the ICA and council, claimed to have left multiple phone messages for board members and staff, and said he had been ignored by all but one member, labor leader Richard Stanizzo.

"If they want intergovernmental cooperation, they ought to be living by the sign that's posted on the door," he said.

Council wants to increase the allocation for its expenses and its clerk's office from $1.7 million to $1.9 million. The extra money would cover 2.5 percent raises and allow council to stay fully staffed year-round and retain its own lawyer.

ICA Chairwoman Barbara McNees said her panel compelled the mayor to keep council's budget close to the $1.7 million level, allowing only the raises.

She said the city must also come up with a better way to monitor and reduce premium pay, including overtime, and work toward averting deficits that are predicted for 2010 and 2011.

"The main theme of what you heard today was cut, cut, cut," said Mr. Shields. The ICA should be focused on finding new revenue for the city, he said. "This board is derelict in its duty."

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.