New water rates were passed by the Homer City Council on Monday night, despite an appeal from the mayor and Councilman Bryan Zak that the struggling economy is no time to increase the cost of living.

In a 5-1 vote, the council again passed the three relevant ordinances. In an attempt to soften the blow, Mayor Pro Tem Dennis Novak advocated not placing the new rates on billing cycles until after the first of the new year.