Kent Driscoll
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Jan 23/06) - Iqaluit residents could be facing an eight per cent hike in property taxes and a five per cent raise in water rates.

City council is predicting a shortfall, and these were some of the items discussed at a pre-budget meeting on Jan. 16 that drew 30 concerned individuals to listen to the deliberations.

However, those discussions didn't have the benefit of final figures.

All of those discussions were based on preliminary figures, and now that the books are done, the councillors can discuss with finality what is to be done.

City council will be holding its final pre-budget meeting on Jan. 27 and will proceed to a vote on the budget on Jan. 30.

The city received a one-month extension from the government of Nunavut.

They have until Jan. 31 at 9 a.m. to submit the budget to the territory.