On Thursday evening, the Litchfield City Council voted against an ordinance that would have increased water and sewer rates for 2018-19 and 2019-20.

The plan would have increased sewer rates by eight percent for each Fiscal Year. The water rate increase would have been the same amount for the same years. The increases would have covered maintenance and operational costs had they been approved.

Before a vote was taken, budget officer Levi Suhrenbrock told the council that the eight percent increases were included in the budget that they passed at the previous meeting. According to Suhrenbrock, some of the projects that would have been covered by the rate increase are funded through the city's water and sewer reserve fund, and that without the increases, the money in the sewer fund would run out.

The council voted but the motion failed, 5-3. Aldermen Tim Wright, Ray Kellenberger, Dwayne Gerl, and Mark Brown and Alderwoman Marilyn Sisson each voted against the ordinance. Alderwoman Kassidy Paine and Aldermen Woodrow Street and David Hollo each voted in favor.

The next Litchfield City Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 3, at 6:30 p.m.