Mayor Levar M. Stoney, frustrated by City Council opposition to his plan to raise the city property tax rate and impose a new cigarette tax to raise new revenue, is taking verbal shots at council foes, riling them.

In recent remarks, Mayor Stoney said City Council members are failing to spread the word about the expanded property tax relief program he opposed, but now is touting as a reason for elderly homeowners to support his proposal to raise the tax on real estate by 9 cents, or 7.5 percent more than the current $1.20 per $100 of assessed value.

He has argued that the increase would largely target people who own homes worth $200,000 or more.

Speaking to the Richmond City Democratic Committee on April 4, Mayor Stoney said that many elderly residents who qualify do not know about the tax relief program that can sharply cut the tax bill for homeowners with annual incomes of $60,000 or less.

“Maybe, instead of some RVA council members going around with a turkey and a box,” he said to laughs, “they should go around with property tax relief forms.”

His comment was an apparent reference to 8th District Councilwoman Reva M. Trammell, an outspoken opponent of the proposed tax increases, who received recognition last year for delivering turkeys to needy families during Thanksgiving.

The mayor did not respond to a Free Press query asking what the Finance Department, which is responsible for the program, and other city agencies are doing to promote the program.

Mayor Stoney’s press secretary, Jim Nolan, responded, “The mayor does not have a beef with the turkeys. He appreciates the generosity and thoughtfulness behind the holiday gesture, but believes we must also commit to sustainable, long-term programs and investments that give families the opportunity to thrive — not just for a day or two, but year-round.”

Ms. Trammell declined to respond directly to the mayor’s remark. “I did not hear it myself,” she said Monday, “but the mayor knows that I bring people to City Hall to apply.”

Second District Councilwoman Kim B. Gray called the mayor’s comment “insulting and false.” She said that virtually every member of City Council calls attention to the tax relief program at community meetings and distributes application forms.

“I do it, everyone does it,” Ms. Gray said. “No one has been more active in that respect than Ms. Trammell.”

Ms. Gray noted that the mayor and his administration tried hard to prevent the council from adopting the expanded the tax relief program, “and now he wants to claim credit for it and pretend that he’s the biggest advocate.”