Tempers flared as the city's budget committee continued hearing from residents on Thursday about the proposed operating budget for 2012.

Mayor Rob Ford tabled a proposed budget late last month that includes a 2.5 per cent property tax increase - along with increases in TTC fares, cuts to childcare space and the closure of some homeless shelters.

For the most part committee members have been hearing from people opposed to the budget, though there have been some supporters.

On Thursday the atmosphere inside the second floor hearing room grew tense when some of the councillors began pushing back.

When one speaker suggested that most Torontonians don't support the cuts, Coun. Doug Ford — the mayor's brother — shot back, "Do you realize in Etobicoke people are saying 'Stay the course, keep going.' Do you realize in the suburbs that's what they're telling us?"