The average East Lansing homeowner could pay nearly $15 more for the city's water and sewer services beginning later this year, if a public works proposal is approved within the city's budget.
City officials are recommending a 3 percent increase in water billing charges for the 2008 fiscal year — which would add up to an extra $3.66 every three months for the typical household.
The next fiscal year begins on July 1.
According to the city's 2008 budget proposal, the increase would be used to compensate for increased water consumption by residents and rising costs that East Lansing must pay to purchase the water from the East Lansing-Meridian Township Water and Sewer Authority.
The authority serves about 74,000 people between the two municipalities and is able to distribute up to 15 million gallons of water per day.
The East Lansing City Council still needs to approve the final budget, which would happen in May, so the proposed 3 percent increase could fluctuate before then, said Todd Sneathen, director of public works and environmental services.
"We've anticipated we're going to average (the increase) in terms of that," Sneathen said. "We're going to have a pretty significant discussion about this in two weeks."
That discussion is scheduled to take place during the council's April 24 work session, he said.
Zoology junior Kate Leitch said $15 isn't too much extra for student residents to pay for their water.
"I don't think I'd care. It's a small percentage," Leitch said. "As long as they're using it for something — otherwise I'd be frustrated that it's not going to anything."
Last year, residents received a 9.4 percent increase in their water charges, which added up to about $45 for the year.
Sneathen said the high increase in 2007 was to make up for past years when water rates weren't changed.
This year's increase can be considered an average change.
English senior Alex Wozniak rents from DTN Management Co. and said tenants shouldn't have to pay for the adjusted increase in utilities.
"We pay a lot of money to our management companies, so you'd think they'd be able to pick it up," Wozniak said.
