Created: 7/16/2009 3:10:27 PM 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Select corporate and civic leaders who make up the "Non-Group" are being invited by City Council President Richard Clark to share their views on city spending.
Clark says he wants to hear from everybody before the council weighs in on Mayor John Peyton's proposal to increase property taxes by one mill, $97 for the average homeowner.
Former mayor John Delaney weighed in by email to the invitation to meet with Clark next week.
Delaney wrote that "John (the mayor) isn't having any fun doing this--this isn't a political winner."
The former mayor also shared his views on how city government works. "It (the council) has no authority to manage the city...and a part time councilman can't possibly make management decisions for the city," said Delaney.
Peyton is busy promoting the first property tax hike in 17 years to plug a $50 million hole in the budget, and avoid having to make more cuts in services.
"This is the least painful way to get though the problem, the least painful," said Peyton during a meeting with residents at the Eastside Library.
Clark, who met on Thursday with leaders of 40 non-profit groups, says he also wants to hear from business and civic leaders.
"These budgets are now ours, we own them...this is our core responsibility and that's the budget and finances of the city," said Clark.
Peyton has proposed a $994 million budget that represents a spending increase of $23 million.
The council is scheduled to vote on the one mill increase at its July 28th meeting.
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