Even before the ruling, there was already little room for error.

Following the state Supreme Court’s decision Thursday to strike down Pittsburgh’s “jock tax” — a key source of needed income for a municipality already strapped for cash — several pressing city financial questions have arisen.

The city had projected a small surplus of $3 million this year. Now that the jock tax is gone — and with it, the $6 million it was budgeted to bring in this year — the question that hangs over officials preparing to lay out next year’s spending plan, according to state Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Brookline), is simple:

“Is the budget going to be in a deficit because of this?” the state senator said. “And if that turns out to be true — does that mean layoffs? Does that mean services get cut?

“It's signific

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