Mayor Heidi Davison is going to the mat for her budget as commissioners look for ways to trim it by $1.75 million to avoid a tax increase.

Davison is especially interested in protecting poverty-related expenses like $192,500 for more frequent bus service along Atlanta Highway, Barnett Shoals Road and Cedar Shoals Drive, $93,000 to start a fund for affordable housing and $26,900 to hire a coordinator for a new mental health court.

Democratic activist Maddy Powell and Athens Grow Green’s Beth Gavrilles both forwarded an e-mail Davison is sending around encouraging citizens to tell commissioners they’ll accept a tax increase for such programs. Says the e-mail: