After four years of cuts, Londoners attending last week's Build A Budget Workshops overwhelmingly said they wanted an increase - if it means better services.
About 91 per cent of those who participated in the workshops said they would pay higher taxes in 2015 for better services.
But the problem is the proposed 2.9 per cent increase doesn't come with any service improvements, it just covers inflation.
Ward 3 Councillor Mo Salih says, "When I am going out and asking residents about feedback for the budget, I think people are willing to pay for services as long as they can see value to those services."
Of the 75 people who took part in the workshops, and 1,300 visits to the website, most said they'd pay more, but only 2.8 per cent would pay more if services remain the same.
And virtually no one wanted services to decline even if it meant a tax freeze.
The areas with the highest support for increases spending were roads, the health unit, garbage collection, parks and urban forestry.
But those results are at odds with what the 2015 draft budget, which proposes raising taxes $72 on the average home simply to maintain current service levels.
And budget documents warn that initiatives that increase service levels will impact taxes.
Ward 12 Councillor Harold Usher says the real question for council is not whether to increase services, but whether to do it this year.
"It's saying that the services are not going to be deteriorated. Now if we want more service, then we will have to pay a little bit more."
But Ward 1 Councillor Michael Van Holst says a larger tax increase is only one option.
"We can either do that by increasing it, or I'm hoping our council is going to find new ways to generate revenue."
Still, whether or not the participants at the workshops reflect the desires of all Londoners is unclear.
Real decision-making on the budget begins next Thursday.
