Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel defended a proposal that would raise the price of city stickers for heavy vehicles.

In his 2012 budget proposal, the mayor suggested raising the sticker price on SUVs by $15 — from $120 to $135. Under the proposal, trucks under 16,000 lbs would pay $200, while those over would pay $450. Emanuel says the fee would raise $14 million dollars to help shrink the city’s $636 million deficit and help pay for damages caused by heavy vehicles on city streets.

“SUV’s that pay today 120 will pay 135,” said the mayor at a press conference on Friday. “That’s where the damage is caused - in heavier vehicles.”

Emanuel says part of the projected revenues would also go toward filling $160,000 worth of pot holes.