A municipality has just completed construction of a bridge. It was defined that operation and maintenance (O&M) of this bridge will cost the city $20,000 for the first year with a 5% increase each year thereafter for the next 4 years. The bank rate is 7.5% a year. What interest rate should be used to calculate the present worth of annual expenditures on O&M during the upcoming five year period following the completion of the bridge?

5.0%

7.5%

1.9%

2.4%

8.2%