NATCHEZ —Natchez aldermen expect to discuss a proposed water rate increase Tuesday.

Natchez Water Works presented a plan on Sept. 9 that would increase the minimum charge for water from $10 for 300 cubic feet of water to $11 for 250 cubic feet of water, as well as increase the fee for every 100 cubic feet thereafter from $2.46 to $2.66.

The current average bill of $18.19 for water and sewer services would increase to $21.19 per month, Natchez Water Works officials said.

Delores Vines, chairperson of the Natchez Water Works board, told city aldermen the increase is necessary to cover rising costs and a declining customer base. She said Natchez Water Works has lost 450 customers since 1994 due to a decline in population.

Natchez Ward 6 Alderman Dan Dillard said he’s not sure what the Water Works has presented as an average bill is actually the average residents pay here.

“One of the things I have a little concern about is he (Water Superintendent David Gardner) says that’s the average bill. It’s average because we have a lot of businesses that have a sink and a toilet and that is it. What I want to know is what’s average for a household bill,” Dillard said.

He said raising the rates for water by $1, actually means raising it $2 “because one is for water and one is for sewer.”

He also said a component of the Natchez Water Works’ rate increase proposal includes additional increases for each of the next five years.

“On the surface, it doesn’t sound like that big a deal — a dollar here or a dollar there. But the main thing that I’m trying to look at in the event that this does go through, will these revenues be applied to capital improvement project, and not just go into salaries and new vehicles and things like that. It needs to go to capital improvements. Then, the question becomes which capital improvements,” Dillard said.

Any money raised from a potential rate increase should be spent to correct issues like the “sewer debacle” on Highland Boulevard and areas like Montebello subdivision where “every time it rains, sewer backs up into houses,” he said.

Dillard said Natchez Water Works should not be spending money to expand into the port area of the county, should not pay for upgrades to the treatment plant to handle industrial waste or to provide fire protection in the port area.

“The county needs to take that up, not the ratepayers of the city,” he said.

Ward 5 Alderman Mark Fortenbery said he doesn’t have questions about the options presented for a rate increase by the Natchez Water Works, but he hasn’t decided how to vote on the issue.

“I’m still thinking,” he said.

Messages left with other aldermen seeking comments on the issue were not immediately returned.

The aldermen meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at 115 S. Pearl St., across the street from city hall.