District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito is one of three council members refusing to entertain a property tax hike to cover the budget deficit.

Credit: Facebook / Marina Alderete Gavito District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito on Wednesday accused city staff of intentionally selecting cuts to resident services in the proposed budget as a way to pit council members against each other.

During a tense Wednesday discussion of the city's looming $158 million budget deficit, Alderete Gavito also requested that City Manager Erik Walsh look for cost-saving measures within City Hall and municipal government rather than ones that would directly affect services available to residents.