Once again the Honolulu City Council, like its Neighbor Island counterparts, is deep in its annual property tax dance.

What we are watching is the tension imposed on elected officials who are faced with directly opposite demands: Lower my taxes and give me more services.

Not possible. Yes, it would be simple to increase taxes and give everyone what they want. It would be equally possible to cut taxes and disappoint the many supplicants who show up at City Hall.

But the inevitable, and understandable, impulse is to do a little of each. Cut taxes where possible, raise them where there is the least political pain involved, and approve as much as possible of a budget designed to be all things to all people.

So that is where we are with the latest round of budget and tax deliberations at the City Council. While no final decisions have been made, there is a clear picture ahead: Keep the budget as business-as-usual and trim property tax rates for the most politically radioactive constituents: homeowners.

At the same time, commercial property tax rates might go up, so the overall impact will be relatively neutral. Your own tax bill might stay steady or even go down. But the place where you buy your bread, rice, television sets and automobiles will see a gentle increase in property tax rates — which will, of course, be passed on to you.

It's easy to see this as cynical manipulation of voter emotions: Give where you can and take where they won't notice. But it also is the inevitable result of our political process. Do we really want elected leaders to operate without consideration of what people think and want?

There are times when our officials do say "no" to spending plans. Usually, this is when a regime changes and the previous gang's ideas are up for, ahem, review.

That was the case after the council leadership changed and Mufi Hannemann replaced Jeremy Harris as mayor. Quickly on the chopping block was the vision team effort, in which hand-selected groups of community leaders were given millions of dollars to spread around their neighborhoods. Some vision team projects remain, but the concept is dead.

So, too, such populist programs as brunches and movies on the beach. To the degree they continue, it is largely because private sponsors have been found.

Advertiser reporter Treena Shapiro reports there was little or no testimony in favor of cutting any programs during the most recent budget talks. Yes, there were complaints about our property tax burden, but virtually nothing to guide the council on how to lower taxes.

So that's where it stands. Don't expect elected officials to force good sense down our throats.

Reach Jerry Burris at jburris@honoluluadvertiser.com.