Taxes for the average Sudburian are set to go up about $70 in the coming year — a number that will likely change as city councillors tinker with the budget over the next two months.

Mayor Marianne Matichuk said she is happy with what staff have come up with so far, but thinks there's more fat still to trim at city hall.

Greater Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk (CBC)

"You know, it's a good start," she said. "I think the only way we can go is down."

Council received its first look at next year's municipal budget at a meeting Tuesday night. They learned the city is looking to spend $493 million in 2013. Slightly less than half of that money will come from property taxes.

Councillors will consider some $3.5 million in extra spending to add to the budget — including $2 million to fix more of Sudbury's roads next summer.

Matichuk said she wants taxes to stay as low as possible, but not at the expense of city infrastructure.

"If you keep taxes too low, then your infrastructure just deteriorates and we're dealing with that now,” she said.

“So there comes a time when you have to look at it responsibly and say, OK, what can we do?"

Matichuk added she believes borrowing money might be the way to pay for new roads without hitting taxpayers too hard.

A final vote on the 2013 Sudbury city budget is expected to take place in January.