The rate increases, announced at last Tuesday’s council meeting, would mean that an average user of water, sewage and sanitation services would pay about $4.50 more a month, according to city staff.

Water rate hikes will cover both debt service and water usage.

City water users will be paying $1.25 more a month for debt service. That flat fee for debt service will go from $6.25 a month to $7.50, a 20 percent increase.

The debt service covers principal and interest payments for water revenue bonds the city has issued for system upgrades.

The monthly rate for water usage also is going up.

For a residential water user, the price for the first 1,000 gallons of water will go from $5.65 a month to $5.95. For each additional 1,000 gallons used, the price will go from $3.60 to $3.95.

The increase in sewer rates will go from $6.76 a month for the first 1,000 gallons to $7.06 a month. For each additional 1,000 gallons, the rate will go from $2.70 to $2.95.

The city’s monthly sanitation fee also will be going up, increasing by 25 cents, from $7.50 to $7.75.

Tonganoxie Mayor John Franiuk said the sewer interceptor project is one reason for the sewer rate increase.

“We plan to pay borrowings off for work on the sewer line,” Franiuk said.

The 3,000-lineal-foot project has three branches with an intersection behind Himpel Lumber property just south of Fifth Street.

Revenue from the Justice Center sales tax was available, but the council opted to use that money for capital improvement projects, such as the traffic signal on U.S. Highway 24-40 near the high school.

Rate increases were approved by a 3-0 vote. Council members Janet Angell and Kathy Graveman were not present at the meeting.