With tough times for municipal budgets about to get tougher, Minnesota city leaders are gathering to discuss ways to weather their latest fiscal struggles.

The annual League of Minnesota Cities Conference opens Wednesday in St. Paul and runs through Friday. There’s plenty of focus on how to survive and thrive in a down economy.

Sessions include “Staffing Your City in a Turbulent Time” and “Getting the Best Bang for the Public’s Buck.”

Many Minnesota cities will feel the pinch even more from the $200 million in local aid cuts announced recently by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Those reductions start taking effect next week.