City of Decorah sewer and water customers will no longer save 5 percent of their bill by paying early

If you live in the City of Decorah and pay your water bill early, you save five percent on your bill.

But the City's Utilities Committee has approved a plan that would do away with the discount--and raise another $60,000 a year for the City of Decorah.

City Administrator Chad Bird says the sewer and water utility needs to raise money to pay for future construction projects.  The current Highway 9 utility project, for instance, is being paid for in part by property taxes, says Bird, adding that customers should pay for the projects they benefit from.

In addition to stopping the early payment discount, the Utilities committee is also recommending a 2 percent increase in water rates and a 1.45 percent increase in sewer rates.  When taken together with the elimination of the early payment discount, the moves--which could begin as soon as in JUly--would raise an additional $84,500 a year for the sewer and water utility.