The cost of living in Long Beach could be rising even more in the near future.

The increase would come because of a proposed $97.6 million budget that would raise taxes by nearly 8%, costing the average taxpayer just over $300 more per year.

"It's a lot of increase. It's the second year in a row," says Jim Barden, of Long Beach.

Others say they don't mind paying a little more if services won't be cut. This year's proposed budget has no cuts to programs or services, but does include a salary increase and higher health care costs for city workers.

"I think we need to bite the bullet and do what we can to maintain the quality of school programs," says Paul Joseph, of Long Beach.

Former school board member Roy Lester says he is skeptical about the increase, and believes in the end, it may be even higher.

"The money keeps coming out of the taxpayers' pockets, and things just keep getting worse. We are so much in debt," says Lester. "What I'm hoping for is that they stop borrowing money, that they say no to their friends and they just do this fiscally responsibly."

Long Beach's acting city manger will present the proposed budget to City Council at a meeting May 7. At that point, changes can be made to possibly reduce the tax rate.

City Council must vote on and pass a budget by May 30.