Jefferson residents will once again see an increase in their water and sewer rates later this fall.

The City Council recently approved the third reading to amend an ordinance to raise each of the water and sewer rates by three percent. City Administrator Mike Palmer says the annual rate increase is to help stay up-to-date with the cost of chemicals to treat the City’s water supply and it also helps with future improvements.

“If the City ever needs to borrow money for infrastructure that’s one of the first things that a lending institute or when we’re bonding will look at, ‘Are you keeping up with your rates?’ Many times you see these smaller communities get caught where they have to raise their rates by 20 or 30-percent all at once. Well it’s likely because they are trying to borrow some money and these lending institutions are like, ‘Your rates aren’t where they need to be.’”

The increase for water rates will raise the base $0.31 per month from $10.21 to $10.52, while the sewer rates will increase $0.36 per month from $11.88 to $12.24.

The increase in rates will be on residents’ October bill.