Leaders of a city in financial trouble should be discussing the problem openly at every one of their meetings and regularly updating residents on what remedial measures are under way, about to get under way, or that are being contemplated.

Residents of Butler, which is moving deeper into the financial doghouse with each passing month, are witnessing none of that. City council meetings are little more than routine exercises focusing on general business, rather than sessions focusing attention on the fiscal crisis that almost certainly lies ahead.

In Butler’s case, that’s either state Act 47 distressed status or bankruptcy — in two or three years.

For at least the council’s majority members who have rejected Act 47 and failed to rally around suggestions from studies of the city’s finances, it’s as if they’re awaiting a rainbow that magically will drop a pot of gold into the city’s bank accounts.

Meanwhile, the clock continues to tick regarding both the city’s 2011 budget and union contracts scheduled to expire at year’s end — 67 days, with little urgency or concern in sight.

It’s true that contract negotiations are in progress and the city will not know how it has fared until new pacts are presented for action. However, from the vantage point of city residents, it’s as if contract talks aren’t even being held; the council has been guarded about releasing indications, positive or negative, about the talks.

It’s routine for those involved in bargaining to be reluctant to release much information about the issues being pursued, or what roadblocks have been resolved or remain unresolved.

Still, considering the city’s plight and the terrible consequences that might lie ahead, city leaders should be less tight-lipped about everything financial connected with the city.

Which brings the situation to this week:

At 6 p.m. today and at 7 p.m. Thursday, the city council will be meeting at the city building at 140 W. North St. Today’s meeting is the council’s agenda-setting meeting for Thursday’s session, but this evening’s meeting, like Thursday’s, is open to the public.

With just 67 days available for substantive developments benefiting city finances, it’s time for residents, merchants and officials of city civic groups to fill the meeting room, with the goal of learning about what’s happening, if anything — and if nothing, why not.

No one with any ties to the city should fear asking the council questions. At the same time, no member of the council should come to the meeting unprepared to engage in dialogue about the city’s fiscal crisis.

Most of all, those attending the meetings should be intent on delivering the message that they’re concerned — concerned not only about how the worsening financial dilemma might affect them in the end, but also how the fiscal woes will impact revitalization efforts already envisioned and partially planned.

An editorial in the May 2 edition of the Butler Eagle urged city leaders to reject excuses for fiscal inaction. But it’s easy not to be proactive on that front if no one attends council meetings with the expressed intent to pressure city leaders to commit themselves to hard decisions.

It’s time for that lack of attention to end — not only for the next 67 days, but permanently. The city’s financial crisis isn’t going away in two months, or not likely in two or three years.

However, from the fiscal standpoint, the next 24 to 36 months are going to be crucial for the city. Backbone and tough decisions are going to be needed like never before.

The big question is whether today and Thursday will lay the foundation for those two important elements to begin guiding the city toward a more prosperous existence, or whether continued disinterest will reign.