City Council's mounting frustration with Mayor Nutter boiled over during a contentious budget hearing yesterday as members questioned the administration's proposed property-tax hikes, its assumption that state legislators will act to help the city - and even the competency of a major department.

The daylong hearing - the first of dozens - foreshadowed a long and difficult negotiation between Council and Nutter. By law, Council and the mayor must pass a budget by June 30.

Much of the debate centered on which tax to raise to close a $1.38 billion five-year deficit.