The fliers are the work of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Northeast Florida. The big headline reads: "Stop a Financial Crisis for Families in Duval County!"

The message goes on to list how much Jacksonville homeowners are already paying in taxes and fees nad ends with a copy of a "Taxpayer Protection Pledge" signed by Mayor Peyton during his initial campaign.

"It is our opinion that real Republicans will never propose raising a tax in a recession," the Caucus's Louis Rose said in a post-budget address interview. "He had several signed promises that he would never raise taxes. We're just very confused about it and think it is bad for party unity."

The Mayor has addressed the tax pledge in the past, saying it was something he signed before his first term and made no such pledge before being elected to a second term.

He also focused on unforseen financial challenges in his address and urged all Jacksonville residents to think about the type of city they want to call home.

"Members of Council, this is not the time to trim back on the social safety net in Jacksonville, Florida," he said Monday, stirring a lound applause from an audience largely made up of the public sector.

The Mayor warns without the revenue collected from a property tax rate hike, lawmakers would have to consider closing libraries, community centers and the Ritz Theatre and LaVilla Museum.

The Sulzbacher Center would lose out on $650,000 in local funding if lawmakers reject the tax rate hike.

"That will affect our ability to shelter families as well as feed the non-residents who are in line three meals a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year," the homeless shelter's CEO Audrey Moran said after hearing the Mayor's presentation. "We won't close, but we'll have to roll back services to such an extent that it would be horrific. Something we simply cannot allow to happen."

The Mayor is scheduled to appear at the Ritz this evening to speak on his three-tiered budget plan and meet with community members concerned about budget cuts to historical and arts sites.

City Council also begins a series of public town-hall style meetings this week, likely drawing a different crowd.

Finance Committee chairman Stephen Joost told me after the Mayor's speech yesterday that he's not sold on a 12 percent property tax hike. While the Council's Finance Committee certainly leans Conservative, Joost did admit avoiding a tax hike altogether may not be possible.

"I believe at the end of the day there will be some combination of cuts and additional revenues," he said.

Get ready. The bitter budget battle and cries for more funding, more cuts and broken promises is just beginning. Expect to hear much more during the next two months.

Have a budget question? Let Jared know.

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