Come the new year, Ottawans who use pre-authorized debit payments to cover their water bills or property taxes will see a 55-cent service fee tacked onto each transaction.

Some residents like Ralph Anzarouth say it feels like they're being nickel and dimed.

"It's a minor inconvenience, but to me it sounds like a sneaky way of a cash grab masquerading as a benefit," he told CBC's .

While the fee is so small many will likely shrug it off, Anzarouth believes it punishes homeowners for being responsible, and offered sarcastic praise for the city's "innovation in modern revenue generation."

“It’s going to cost me about $11 a year,” he said. “I mean, it's not a huge amount, but that amount can increase next year, or the year after, and it's just another tax that we didn't expect.”

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