The legislative proposal would roll back property taxes to their 2001 rates.

Gainesville City Manager Russ Blackburn says the city would lose almost six million dollars on its budget.

"We would be looking at all non-critical programs be eliminated," says Blackburn. "Several parks and rec programs, the things we do that are really nice, we would no longer be able to provide."

But it's not a problem just for big cities. Hawthorne Mayor Terry Knowles says the city would lose more than 10% of the general fund and might force them to cut 3.5 positions on a staff which only has 8.5.

"We may not have the personnel to do it," says Knowles. "Minor repairs on the streets wouldn't be able to be done. Just a lot of the little things that take place in a small town, we wouldn't have the capability of doing it."

In anticipation of what could come, Blackburn has announced a soft hiring freeze as of today. That means every department head outside police and fire departments must provide written justification to replace vacant positions and Blackburn must personally approve them.

By Dan Breitwieser, WCJB TV 20 News