About a dozen Thunder Bay residents came out to take part in a public meeting concerning the city's budget. Most presenters said taxes and user fees shouldn't go up.

City councillors in Thunder Bay listened to resident's thoughts on the 2012 budget Tuesday night. And with the input of taxpayers like Joanne Richard, the public made its message clear.

"I'm here to complain about the increases,” Richard said, noting that her property taxes have gone up every year since she bought her house in 1992. She said her water bill has doubled.

Richard said she felt it was time for city council to start making cuts.

Council needs to “[reduce] costs instead of … increasing our property taxes and water bills ever year,” she said.

Andy Wolff, one of the dozen people who attended the meeting, directed a money-saving idea to city administration.

"I think they should lead by example by indefinitely freezing all city wages in excess of $100,000,” Wolff said.

I'm asking you to reject this...—Thunder Bay resident Frank Armiento

He added the city should also hold off on all capital projects, and go through city department's budgets, line-by-line, to find savings.

The majority of the presenters told council that taxes and user fees shouldn't go up — including Frank Armiento, who told councillors he's been asking for years for taxes to be held in line. He said he doesn't want to see any more increases.

"I come here tonight, and I'm asking you to reject this and to look harder to make some cuts."

Council will take the public input into consideration, when budget deliberations begin Wednesday.

The first items up for discussion include sewer and water rates.