Logic would dictate that significant staffing increases wouldn't be needed, Newton said. Cutting the staff by 13 employees would save the district $62 million over the next 35 years, eliminating the need for most of the proposed tax increase, Newton said.

There are other places for belt-tightening, Newton said. Metro Water could dump its Web site, refrain from doing two to three times more tests on its water than federal standards require and make other cuts, including looking to the private sector for lab tests, he said. The district should feel some financial pain since pending water rate increases will cause consumers financial pain, Newton said.

"I'm concerned that a tax increase is just going to be an excuse for hiring people and running our district at a level that is unnecessary," he said. Higher water rates are "really going to be painful for people. In our organization, we need to share in that pain. Maybe we can't have everything we want. We need to make some sacrifices here."

Metro Water general manager John Carman didn't return a call for comment.

Tax-hike opponents maintain growth hasn't lived up to anticipations and that many of the costs associated with trying to double water capacity could be put off, negating the need for a tax increase.

And some Metro Water Board members besides Newton say they would like to postpone a tax hike until at least next year. The board has commissioned a study to better understand what staffing it will need to run the new Point of the Mountain plant and its refurbished Little Cottonwood Canyon plant. The study should be complete in six months.

Some board members are also considering whether increased water rates charged to Salt Lake City and Sandy public utilities departments could pay for additional costs.

But other board members don't like that plan because Metro Water's rates are already high and getting higher.

"We have a divided board," member Genevieve Atwood said. Atwood said that if it isn't this year, a tax increase will likely be forthcoming in the near future.

"If I were to give the indication to the public . . . or to our cities that it isn't going to cost more, I would not be doing my job," she said.

Representatives of the Metro Water District will give a briefing on their proposed budget to the Salt Lake City Council Thursday.

Following that briefing, on June 13, the district's board will adopt its 2006 budget. That meeting is open to the public and will be held at 6 p.m. inside the Little Cottonwood facility at 3430 E. Danish Road.

Board member Leland Myers said he thinks trustees will move to take the tax increase out before approving the budget. That way the board can get more information on what cost increases are really needed.

"I'm only one of seven votes, but I think we will eliminate the tax increase," he said.

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E-mail: bsnyder@desnews.com