Last week, we asked readers to come up with their own wish list for the Budget.

The replies were varied. One suggested a race track around SmartCity, another called for more books for public libraries and another said MPs should only be paid according to the number of parliamentary sittings they attend.

Surprisingly, not all of them were against taxes, with some saying that higher taxes need to be imposed on things that harmed public health and the environment, with one reader also proposing a tax on advertising.

Others proposed housing solutions for young couples, subsidies for renewable energy equipment, more accountability, less corruption and better pensions.

But perhaps the most common cry was to keep prices of daily necessities in check, especially medicines and fruit and veg.

The following were some of the suggestions received by readers of timesofmalta.com and The Times:

V. Aquilina, Pieta'

I would reduce the top income tax band of 35 per cent and introduce a mechanism to ensure that medicine prices are kept in check. I suggest raising the national minimum wage, besides the cost-of-living increase. We need to buy more books for public libraries and have more funds for the prevention of drug abuse and rehabilitation, while reinforcing mechanisms to check school absenteeism

E. Silvio, Tarxien

I hope Tonio Fenech keeps his promise, of two years ago, to remove the TV licence, as it is not fair. I pay €55. 90, while others pay nothing.

Kevin Sammut, Rabat

Tax the rich, give assistance to the poor and leave the rest of us alone.

Maria Zammit, Birkirkara

Housing is a problem for young couples who wish to get married. I think the solution should be that the government builds flats for rent only, at very reasonable rates. Those who take a flat are responsible for its upkeep and maintenance, with a contract for 30 years only. Then, the property goes back to the government to give to someone else.

Mike Magri, Luqa

Widows should continue to receive the same pension of their husbands, not fall on the stupid widow's pension. Widows are socially entitled for such a pension as they too contributed immensely to the raising of their families by taking a career as a housewife. Our housewives should be appreciated as much as any other career woman.

Ray Schembri, Birkirkara

I hope there's tax for advertising. We receive too much advertising material. We're paying for it without knowing, as prices can go lower should there be no advertisement.

Joseph Said, Birkirkara

I would like to see how the government intends to take concrete steps towards reducing significantly the population of illegal immigrants. It's inconceivable how the government keeps on spending about €30 million a year on immigrants when it knows these will only bring trouble to our islands in the future.

Michael Gatt, San Ġwann

I want to see the suggestion made by Joseph Muscat brought to practice in this budget.

J. Borg, Paola

What's the use of wishes if the government steamrolls over everyone?

Mark Bishop, Naxxar

I would like to see a true and unlimited subsidy on all purchases of renewable energy equipment, both for residential and commercial use, such that it really encourages people to take the leap forward.

Maria Curmi, Birkirkara

We should reduce the salary of MPs and make sure they get paid only for the number of days they attend to work at Parliament sessions. Imagine a worker not going to work on a daily basis!

I. Galea, Żabbar

An early election next year, to get rid of this arrogant government!

Alex Spiteri, Luqa

The idea that the government is there to give us something is simply pathetic and wrong. By continuing to engage ourselves in an unsustainable welfare state, the government has no other options than that of imposing more and more taxes. I don't want anything from the government, I simply want a government that doesn't take anymore from me!

M. Porter, Għaxaq

I hope that the new vehicle licences would be revised downwards drastically. They are shameful!

Adrian Aquilina, Swieqi

I want the government to realise they are there to serve not rule, so the Budget should be one that starts the economy moving, making it easier for small businesses and self-employed, by putting money in people's pockets for spending to increase. Forget the Parliament project and invest in the economy. Also, harsh penalties and money towards animal rights.

Therese Dimech, Rabat

I wish the government announces an austerity Budget, followed a week later by another hefty increase in water and electricity rates. Maybe then, at long last, the Maltese would finally wake up and make enough noise to tumble this feeble and incompetent government out of office before the complete ruination of this beautiful island of ours. But, then, I say to myself: "Dream on!"

Michael Scicluna, St Paul's Bay

I would like to see that all the monies collected annually from road licence and import registration tax to be spent on the revamping and upkeep of all roads in Malta and Gozo.

Karmenu Vella, Mellieħa

We are wasting money on single mothers. We should help them until their children are grow up but then they have to pay back. Students should have to work at government offices while on summer holidays. As for the unemployed, we should give them some sort of work like doing maintenance in St Luke's Hospital: painting, plumbing, electricity, etc. The problem is the more you work the more you are taxed.

N. Calleja, St Julians

I simply cannot understand why here in Malta we make such a fuss because of the annual Budget. We have the pre-Budget discussion that takes months, the MCESD discussing the Budget in many meetings, and countless TV, radio and newspaper discussions. And that's all before the reading of the Budget! On Budget Day, Malta stands still for almost three hours until our Finance Minister reads every page of his document. Then, we have again all these analysing the outcome for weeks on end, as if this is the end of the world! Do you see anything like this in any other country?

Alistair Farrugia, Fgura

We should create a racing track, possibly around SmartCity (like Monaco's Grand Prix street-track). We also need sports- or music -focused schools that teach students on a full-time basis together with national minimum curriculum. I would like to see more public gardens and more government-supported day centres to boost female participation.

We should lower VAT on day-to-day essentials and higher VAT on luxury goods. Also, increase taxation on products that are harmful to the environment and/or public health and re-consider the car registration system and tie the fee more heavily with carbon emissions rather than engine size and car age, dimensions etc.

P. Zammit, Balzan

Tax evasion is rampant especially with professionals (lawyers, doctors, specialists). Collect what is due from these people and we will solve our deficit.

The Budget 2010 will be streamed on timesofmalta.com this evening from 6.30 p.m. Readers will be able to put questions on the Budget that will be answered by officials of the Finance Ministry. Questions are to be submitted to budget@timesofmalta.com