Years ago, if any politician had said the city budget couldn’t be cut the media would have taken it as a dare.

Reporters would have pored over the budget, looking for items that did not seem to be absolutely necessary.

But today?

The Florida Legislature puts a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would grant major property tax relief.

Elected officials in local governments are in a panic, claiming it would devastate cities.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, Democrat, says “vital services” may have to be cut and called the tax relief proposal a “Tallahassee takeover.”

The media reports her words and focuses on the harm the measure allegedly would do with little or no mention of any benefit to the taxpayer.

Deegan says it would take $300 million from the city’s “$2 billion budget.” The media parrots her.

“The city’s budget this year is just over $2 billion,” a story in a small local newspaper said.

That’s really strange because on page 118 of the city budget it clearly says the net city budget is $3,516,195,862. That doesn’t even include the budgets for the city’s independent authorities, which also are approved and authorized by the mayor and City Council. The total budget is around $9 billion.

For many years, when the city presented its budget honestly and completely, it included  a total of all government expenditures, including the School Board, even though it is a separate fiscal entity. It also showed graphs of budgets over the years, adjusted for population and inflation, and a comparison of typical costs to homeowners for taxes, water and sewer and electricity.

City Councilman Rory Diamond, the council maverick who may or may not run for mayor next year, has been criticizing Deegan’s financial acumen on Facebook, but is getting little ink in the compliant press.

One recent meme by Diamond mentions $7.5 million for the arts. While nice for the hoity-toity crowd, it is at least debatable whether that is a necessity to the single mother who can barely make her mortgage payment, which includes escrowed property taxes.

And why is no one questioning the billions being spent to replace septic tanks that are working perfectly well, or the $150 million to be lavished on a sidewalk through some of the worst parts of town?

But Eye on Jacksonville wanted to hear the mayor’s take on the issue — and she gave us an earful.

The folks in Tallahassee are “going further and further to take over home rule,” she said.

 “We’re the government closest to the people but they are cutting the load-bearing wall for the house we live in in Jacksonville, and it is completely irresponsible.”

“That’s not small government. That is big government.”

“It’s a political move and it will have many consequences.”

 Deegan said it is up to the voters and if they decide on tax relief, she will make it happen. But she said she is not going to lie to them about it.

She said her administration cuts things from the budget all the time, by deciding not to include them. “we do the things that will do the most for city. We have had a lean budget every year.”

“Obviously there are things you can cut. But you have to explain it to people.”

As for Diamond, she said “he wants police, fire and garbage and let everything else go.” Arts have a 20-to-1 return on investment, she said. “That’s how we make every decision.”

Deegan said it is not a partisan issue.

Two points. In 1980 the homestead exemption was quintupled, as it would be under the current proposal. Cities didn’t collapse then.

The other is that there should be robust debate on this issue, moderated by the media, while providing citizens with information from both sides.

That’s not happening when they just regurgitate talking points from one side. Coverage and commentary concentrate on the plight of the government. To hell with the people.

Anyone who can remember when the city had an active, objective and vigorous press would almost weep at how docile and partisan it is today.