As a reminder: all Jefferson residents will soon see an increase to their water and sewer bills.

The City Council recently approved a three-percent increase to the base rate for each utility, while recycling and garbage rates will not see an increase. City Administrator Mike Palmer says the increase came later than it normally does and he explains the timing of the decision.

“One of the reasons was that they really wanted to study this budget even more and where the current revenues were if the increase needed to happen. They had a number of committee meetings and they reviewed it for three or four more months beyond what the one year would normally be. It is showing up now that they are probably about where they should be with the first quarter revenues.”

The water and sewer committee discussed future major projects, including a water main replacement program, upgrades and improvements to the sewer plant and major upgrades to the water plant, along with the increased costs in chemicals to treat the City’s water supply, as other reasons for the increase. Palmer adds, residents shouldn’t expect to see another three-percent increase later in the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2020.