Your cynicism and disrespect is foiled again by the mayor’s superior public relations prowess:

Defying expectations that the city would increase property taxes to help close a projected $3.1 billion budget gap, Mayor Bloomberg will argue today that the budget can be balanced without the pain of a tax hike.

In his annual State of the City address, Mr. Bloomberg will propose extending the 7% property tax cut he instituted last year, initially presented as a one-time bonus, an aide familiar with the speech said.

Mr. Bloomberg also will call for an extension of a $400 property tax rebate for homeowners, the aide said.

Backing away from a property tax increase as the city heads into an uncertain fiscal period may be seen as a sign Mr. Bloomberg is attempting to differentiate himself from the Democratic presidential candidates in advance of a possible White House run, and to avoid being characterized as a politician who would rather raise taxes than find savings in the city’s budget.

(Dagnamit! He got us again! How could this finely honed BS detector miss this?!)