The bitter and personal political

feud that's been waged in recent months between Mayor Steve Brown

and Mayor Pro Tem Dan Tennant reached a furious pitch at last week's

council meeting, displayed in a debate on city spending that left even

veteran observers of city politics shaking their heads.

The odds were in favor of some

type of confrontation going into the meeting, loaded with two very high

profile issues that have divided Tennant and Brown: Raising the millage

rate to cover the city's $27 million budget, and the future of the

development authority.

What nobody expected, perhaps,

was the turnout from the citizenry themselves - dozens of residents

who used an open forum period created last-minute by Brown to express

their anger and frustration at the state of city affairs.

The target of much of their

ire was Brown, the first-time mayor who rode into office in 2001 on a

pledge to sweep the old political establishment from power. But with the

future of the development authority in doubt, and management of the city's

tennis center and amphitheater hanging in the balance, combined with a

financial reality that will likely demand another tax increase a year

from now, Brown's job looks to get no easier.

Enter Tennant, the Post 2 candidate

running for re-election largely on a platform that appears to directly

oppose Brown on just about every issue.

During budget hearings in August,

Tennant offered three spending proposals that would have required no tax

increase, but slight cuts to city staff, benefits and some services. He

also offered, for the first time, an idea to raise some city fees, particularly

those charged on traffic violations.

But when a proposal to raise

the occupational businesses tax came up for approval last Thursday, Tennant

nixed it - arguing against any tax increase.

As the final consideration

of the .53 increase in the millage was discussed last week, Tennant reminded

the audience of his own efforts to force the city to live within its means.

Brown, apparently, had had

enough.

"I didn't know you

were going to take this in the direction you did," Brown said near

the end of Tennant's comments.

"Well did you think I

was going to be in favor of a tax increase?" Tennant replied.

Brown discredited Tennant's

budget proposals as being unworkable, particularly since they would have

given raises to public safety workers but denied them to maintenance employees.

Councilmen Murray Weed and Steve Rapson sided with the mayor on the wisdom

of such a move.

"Look, it may be a difference

of opinion, but that's my opinion," Tennant argued.

Said Weed, "You're

entitled to your opinion."

Added Rapson, "It's

also important to note that the fire and police departments also disagreed

with you."

Tennant shot back, "Why

don't you make yourselves feel better and pass your tax increase?"

But Brown wasn't finished:

"The 'no tax' rhetoric of your previous election was followed

this what we can expect of you if you get reelected again?"

"I don't know, we

may not have to worry about it, will we?" replied Tennant.

Said Brown, "We can only

hope now, can't we?"

With that, City Manager Bernard

McMullen interrupted and requested a vote on the millage and budget be

taken. It was approved, 3-1, with Tennant casting the dissenting vote.

Councilwoman Annie McMenamin

was absent.

The 12.3 percent tax increase

will raise the taxes on an average $200,000 house by about $100 annually,

city staff claimed.

It was retroactive, going into

effect as of Oct. 1, the start of the fiscal year.

The city election is Nov. 4.