Hatch said the different tax issues and budget adjustments addressed in resolution 4287 would be addressed individually at the July 14 council meeting. He said he had spoken with all of the Democrats on the board and several of the Republican members and did not anticipate any hindrance to "fixing the problems."

Councilman Jeff Allen, leader of the minority council Republicans, said he felt the controversy was "much ado about nothing."

"The mayor clearly stated that he was vetoing the property tax that related to debt service," Allen said. "I don't think that there was, necessarily, an error made."

Allen said he thought it was appropriate for Hendrickson to take the "safest and most narrow interpretation" of the veto document but registered disappointment that an effort to find clarification was not taken up directly with Miller's office.

The latest property tax wrinkle adds to an intra-party rift among county Democrats who occupy the executive office and the majority position on the council. Corroon parted ways with his colleagues on the council on the necessity of increasing revenues, via a property tax hike, to address an unexpected $9 million shortfall for 2009 in interest revenue on county investments. The council passed the debt service shift on June 18 on a 5-4 party line vote. It would have raised annual property tax on a $250,000 home by about $10. Corroon maintained the increase was unnecessary in light of a balanced 2009 budget, and a constituency already overburdened by ongoing challenges in a weak economy.

E-MAIL: araymond@desnews.com