CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Water bills for Mecklenburg County residents could be going up again.
Customers who use the least amount of water would pay about $1.70 more each month. Most customers would pay about $3.30 more.
The heaviest users would pay $7.94 more.
Many hope the increase does not happen, especially those on fixed incomes or Social Security, like George Digregorio.
"Water bill goes up. Gas bill goes up. Electric bill goes up," he said.
"It definitely adds up and, for a taxpayer, a few bucks actually matters," said Dairious Robinson.
When Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities raised rates last July, the average bill went up $4.59.
Now CMUD said it needs more money because it needs to make upgrades and repairs to its water system that was installed in the 1980s and only has a 30-year lifespan.
It's also modernizing its plants and having to spend more on power bills and fuel.
"Fuel for our generators, fuel for our trucks, power to run our plants, our operations, I mean, those prices go up for us like they go up for our customers at their homes," said CMUD spokesperson Karen Whichard.
City Council has to approve the hike. If it does, the increase would go into effect July 1.
Republican Andy Dulin feels the extra money will mean better service.
"We're 50 water and sewer fixing guys short, literally, though, we're starting to hire these folks back so that we can get more boots on the ground," he said.
But Democrat Michael Barnes sees it as nickel-and-diming people who cannot afford it, especially at a time when the city is thinking of raising property taxes.
"It's beyond a drip, drip, drip now," he said. "I don't want to price people out of Charlotte."