City officials considering sewer and water rate increase and other ways to handle budget shortfall

Right now if you own property in the City of Decorah and pay your water and sewer bill before the deadline, you save five percent off your bill.

City of Decorah officials are considering ending that discount as one of the ways to handle the need for more money to keep the city's sewer and water utilities running in the black.

City Manager Chad Bird told city council members on Monday night that although expenses continue to increase for the water plant and sewer treatment plant, the three largest water consumers in the city have decreased their water usage by 26 million gallons in the past three years.  Since sewer and water is charged on a per gallon basis, that means the costs of running the city's plants need to be spread over a smaller base.