A majority of Bermudians believe that introducing income tax would be a bad idea if an informal poll conducted yesterday on the streets of Hamilton is anything to go by.

Most people said they felt they were already taxed enough and some called on Government to get its finances in order and stop wasting money.

Computer technician Shane Leverock said: "No, I think things are overpriced as it is. To add income tax would be an extra burden. I would hope that, if it were introduced, the Government would be smart enough not to do it without a referendum first."

Asked how which methods he thought Government should look to to increase its revenue, he said: "I suppose they could increase the fees for international business and maybe put up the duty on luxury goods."

Both nutritionist Jean-Ann Hayward and student LaToya Outerbridge agreed that income tax would not be the way to go.

"They already get enough out of us from things like fines," Ms Hayward said.

And Ms Outerbridge added: "If they want to increase their revenue then they need to stop spending so much and rethink their budgets."

Bank worker Charla Douglas said: "We don't need more taken out of our pay cheques. Everything here cost enough already. Government needs to stop having parties and wasting so much money."

Ingram Ratteray and his son Tsu-Troy Kalzahkeyah said if the measure were to be introduced then they would support it.

But they added that it should be categorised to ensure that the tax was fair across the board and suggested that international businesses contribute more to the community for the tax breaks they receive from being here.

Builder Hiram Todd said it any government were to introduce a tax on earnings then they would need to be smart about it and call it something else "because the words income tax are offensive".

"If Government doesn't have the capital to fulfil the dreams that it has for Bermuda, then it needs to be raised," he said.

Student Ashleigh DeSilva, 16, said she was not in favour of income tax and added: "We have enough tax. It's already too high."

City official Bill Brooks said he was opposed to the idea and said: "In Bermuda most of the money that people make doing overtime, they get to keep. I wouldn't want to give 15 percent of my earnings to Government."