Umatilla residents will soon be paying more for city water and sewer services.

At the Umatilla City Council meeting Tuesday, members approved a resolution raising both water and sewer rates by 4 percent beginning July 1, so residents will see the rate hike on their August bills.

City Manager Bob Ward recommended adopting the increase because the city was not able to generate enough revenue with the current fees to transfer $100,000 from each account into reserves for future maintenance and expansion. He said smaller, more frequent rate increases are also more preferable than the double-digit increases for both services the city adopted about two years ago after 15 years without rate adjustments.

“Both of those increases were very significant rate increases due to the neglect of looking at those programs for so long,” he said. “At the time, we promised that we would not wait that long, that we would come back with more frequent, lesser increases as needed. … In those 15-year periods when we didn’t make any rate increases, we ended up actually taking money out of reserves to pay our day-to-day operating costs, so we want to avoid being back in that position.”

Ward said, even with the increases, Umatilla’s rates will be less than Oregon and eastern Oregon averages based on a recent study by the League of Oregon Cities.

According to the LOC’s 2014 Water Rate Survey, which included data from 168 cities, the average residential water bill for 5,000 gallons with a .75-inch meter was $31.73 in eastern Oregon and $34.88 statewide, and the average residential wastewater bill for 5,000 gallons with a .75-inch meter was $40.25 in eastern Oregon and $43.84 statewide.

With Umatilla’s rate increase, residential water customers will pay a $12.88 base rate for a .75-inch meter plus $1.30 per 1,000 gallons — up from a $12.38 base rate and $1.25 for water consumed. The total for 5,000 gallons will be $19.38. Single-family residential units will pay $39.94 for sewer services, up from $38.40.

Umatilla will still offer a water hardship rate — $9.75 base plus $1 per 1,000 gallons — available for residents whose income does not exceed 125 percent of the federal poverty rate and a 10 percent water discount for senior citizens 65 and older.

Resident John Nichols said he and many other Umatilla residents live on a fixed income, and, although he has refused to consider discounted rates in the past, he may be forced to do so.

Resident Jack McWhinney also questioned the rate increase, stating people in Umatilla work hard but don’t make much money.

Mayor Dave Trott said he believed city officials were doing their best to manage taxpayers’ money. He said, however, the city must maintain its water and sewer systems in order to continue providing the needed service to residents.

“We have an aging infrastructure,” he said. “The longer it goes, the worse it gets. … We have to do what’s best to see that the aging infrastructure for the city is repaired in a timely fashion. Somebody has to pay for it. I’m sorry, but that’s us. I know people have tight budgets, and I know fixed-income people have tighter budgets, but we all share in this together. I honestly don’t know what else we can do.”

In other City Council news:

• The Umatilla municipal judge administered the oath of office to five new Umatilla Police Department reserve officers who recently completed the Bi-county Reserve Academy: Kimberley Carrier, Thalia Leon, Calvin Meade, Jordan Robeson and Fernando Sanchez.

• Council members approved a new three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Umatilla Public Safety Association for non-administrative UPD officers that provides a 5 percent wage increase the first year and 3.5 percent increases in each of the second and third years.

• Mayor Dave Trott read an annual proclamation designating May 3 through May 9 as Two Rivers Correctional Institution Employee Recognition Week.