Some Regina city councillors say it's way too soon to predict a tax increase.

On Thursday, Councillor Wade Murray told News Talk Radio a single-digit increase in property tax appears inevitable. But council colleague Louis Browne says it's too early in the budget process to make a prediction, with variables like revenue sharing from the province, or what will happen in Ottawa.

"I don't know if we have any certainty who the prime minister of Canada is going to be at the end of the month," Browne said, "so that, of course, has an impact on our budget process, and at this point in time we just don't have certainty."

Michael Fougere agrees it's too soon to say. He argues while costs may be rising, they'll look at ways to make up the difference with a high-level review.

The majority of those who responded to a Chamber of Commerce survey favoured a combination of finding efficiencies, program cuts, and raising taxes, but efficiencies was the most preferred individual option.

Browne says the city has done very well in that regard since the Core Services Review was released, but admits there's only so far that can go.