Duncan, Council Divided On Budget

All the council members have indicated that they regard Duncan's tax rate equation as inadequate. A majority would like to see the budget get close to the cap, with a cut of about 7 cents. That would require the council to slice about $70 million.

Some members are so concerned about not breaking the cap that they are considering an increase in the county's tax on energy consumption, which is excluded from the cap, or dipping into the reserve fund.

It remains to be seen whether the council can stomach the needed reductions, which could mean cutting the $1.7 billion schools budget. Council committees have begun making preliminary cuts , including a decision last week to cut 20 of the 52 new police positions Duncan requested.

"All I know is there are a lot of nice things and good things and valuable things in the budget that I am not willing to pay for at this point," said council member Nancy K. Floreen (D-At Large), who also relied on Duncan's help to be elected in 2002.

Floreen and other council members are responding to what, at least anecdotally, are increasing frustrations among homeowners over their property tax bills.

Anti-tax activists say they might try to put a more restrictive cap on the 2006 ballot, even though nearly 60 percent of voters rejected a similar measure last year.

"I am thinking this year the council needs to be very careful to strike a balance between tax bill concerns and service improvements," said Robert Kendal, county budget director for 16 years, including Duncan's first two terms. "If people are not persuaded of that, they may choose to express themselves at the next election not just in who they vote for but what ballot initiatives they approve."

Similar concern has prompted former council member Isiah Leggett (D), a candidate for county executive, to advocate sticking to the charter limit on taxes. "To me, it's not a risk we should be taking," he said of exceeding the cap. "You jeopardize the current system and endanger the very people we are trying to help."