The upcoming year might not be all doom and gloom for Charlottesville officials and their spending options.

The $1.8 million shortfall that Charlottesville officials projected in August for this year’s budget could be tame compared with what could be in store down the road.

Charlottesville city councilors on Monday agreed to slash the amount of money to be spent in future years on new signs and endorsed the idea of starting a loan fund to enable low-income residents to make their homes more energy-efficient.

One of the more controversial uses of taxpayer money in the Charlottesville budget is again stirring debate among councilors: How much should be spent on new signs?