A major source of the $170 figure has been the Salt Lake City Public Utilities Department, which has persuaded the City Council to raise sewer and water rates in each of the past five years.

From 1999 to 2004 the average residential water user in Salt Lake City saw their bill jump from $241.42 to $304.96 yearly, a $63.54 increase.

Annual sewer bills have similarly increased from $76.80 to $121.96, a $45.16 increase — or 59 percent hike.

City staffers offer good reasons for the increases.

At public utilities, finance director Jim Lewis says major construction projects such as the Metropolitan Water District treatment plant in Draper and significant infrastructure improvements to the city's decaying water and sewer lines justify rate hikes.

"Our rates are still way low," compared to rates in other states, Lewis said. "People love to pay our bills."

Sammie Dickson, manager of the city's mosquito abatement district, has been forced to increase staffing and abatement procedures to fight mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus.

"If West Nile were to go away today, we wouldn't need that tax increase," he said.

Similarly, at the Salt Lake City School District, representatives say they need an increase so they won't lose state matching funds associated with Gov. Olene Walker's Reading Initiative.

And Library Systems director Nancy Tessman says flat property tax rates over the past several years have not kept up with inflation, thus mandating either a tax increase or cutbacks in library services.

While needed, all the costs add up and the City Council has gone along with most hikes. Christensen notes city dwellers generally want nice amenities and services.

"If you're going to live in the city, you're going to live there because you want a specific experience and you're going to pay for it," he said. "In the long term if your neighborhood doesn't look nice, there's zero incentive to live there."

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E-mail: bsnyder@desnews.com