last minute notice of unpaid utilities

[Laura Turner]

So after many months of waiting the agent informed me that the bank finally approved my offer on a short sale. Just a few days before closing, the title company tells me that the bank hasn't okayed paying for the significant final water and sewer bills. Ideally the bank will decide to pay, but if they don't and my only option is pay or don't close -then what? I'd understood that everything was approved and ready to go.  Is this something the agent should have been aware of?