City Administrator Doug Maxeiner says the consultant suggests an increase of 8.2 per cent in the first year, with smaller increases in the following two years.
"So this takes into account the cost of producing, storing, and distributing the water. It takes into consideration the cost of any money we've had borrow in the past for improvements, so principal and interest on that money. And then it takes into consideration planned improvements in the near future for both the water and the sewer side."
The average East Moline resident now pays about 81 dollars ($80.67) per month for water and sewer service, and the first year increase would raise that to 87 dollars ($87.31) - an increase of about 6 1/2 dollars.
Maxeiner says it's critical for the city to have the money it needs to provide clean and reliable water service, and wastewater treatment.
And even with the possible increases, he says the cost in East Moline will still be 12 per cent lower than Rock Island, and 17 per cent lower than Moline.
