The city can't afford to pay one-third of the estimated 255 million dollar cost of providing safe, clean drinking water.
That admission from Finance Commissioner Greg Yeomans who argues the city can fofnly afford to contribute 10 percent and maintains the province and federal government will have to contribute more than two-thirds.
He points to the big increase in water rates next year and in 2012 of more than 19 per cent being caused by another less expensive project, the cleanup of the harbour.
Common Council is expected to approve tonight a 72 dollar increase in water rates next year with another 104 dollar rise coming in 2012. Flat rate customers will pay 936 dollars in 2011 and over a thousand dollars in 2012. Metered rates are also rising by 8.3 per cent next year and 11.1 per cent in 2012.
