ATTLEBORO - Take tight city finances, throw in charges of political motivation and add an impending primary election and you have a formula for a bitter and explosive debate - and that's what happened Tuesday on the city council floor.

A fiery backlash was sparked by a discussion on the vexing and seemingly never-ending problem on what to charge the independently funded water and wastewater departments for city services.

The matter was brought up during a session of the budget and appropriations committee by its Chairman Bill Bowles, who will be facing off against former Councilor Kate Jackson Tuesday in the Democratic primary election for state representative.

Bowles urged the council to adopt a resolution asking the mayor for a study based on the "incremental cost method" of assessing the water and wastewater departments for services such as accounting, billing and police and fire protection. Currently, the two departments are charged a total of about $1 million.

Bowles hopes the study will result in lower charges and lower water and sewer rates. "I think, basically, we're charging too much," he said. However, the proposal brought an immediate rebuke from Councilor Brian Kirby, who said councilors lacked information on which to make a decision and that Bowles' aim could result in cash cuts from the general fund and cause layoffs in tight financial times.

"Say you can save $300,000. That means we'll have to take it from the general fund and cut firefighters, teachers and police officers," he said. "If there's an impact on general government, there's an impact on all citizens."

Over the years, Bowles has led the charge to reduce water and sewer rates, but colleague Peter Blais said this time it was politically motivated.

Blais also charged that rate reductions urged by Bowles in the past had caused deficits and contributed to large rate hikes later.

"Those two departments were run on bare bones, and that cost us," Blais said. "You put us behind the eight ball with penny-wise and pound foolish rates. You're playing politics from that front chair."

Bowles denied the charge.

"I think I know who's playing politics," he told Blais, who backs Jackson.

Bowles said he only wanted to "open the discussion" on the resolution and didn't expect a vote immediately. But he defended the idea.

"I don't think all of us are comfortable with the costs that are being charged over there, and all this is doing is saying that there may be a better way," he said.

Bowles said if cuts had to be made from the general fund to adjust the charges, it could be done gradually as finances allowed. Meanwhile, Councilor Jerry Chase charged that Kirby was guilty of "censorship" when he objected to Bowles' use of the word "fair" to describe the proposed method of determining the charges.

"This is America, damn it, and you can say the word fair all you want - you shut up," he yelled as Kirby tried to object.

The meeting ended without a vote.