POLSON, Mont. (AP) — The Polson City Commission has proposed tripling the city's water and sewer rates to pay for a $19 million wastewater and sewage treatment plant needed to meet federal discharge regulations that take effect in 2018.

The Missoulian reports (http://bit.ly/1k5rKuT) it was standing-room-only for Monday's commission meeting at which the new rates were discussed. Residences that use less than 5,000 gallons of water pay about $30 monthly for water and sewer. The proposed rates for the same usage would be in the $90 range.

Many at the meeting wanted to know how the city expected young families, those on fixed incomes, landlords and businesses to pay three times their current water and sewer rates starting in August.

Commissioners tabled the final reading of the proposal and will take it up at again on July 21.

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