Vicksburg residents can expect an education on the city’s water and rate structure and on how city utilities are funded during a public meeting Thursday at the City Hall Annex.

Mayor George Flaggs Jr. will host a one-hour question and answer session titled, “Why We Must Increase Water and Sewer Rates,” from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Flaggs called the meeting April 10 after announcing the city will be raising water and sewer rates. He said the rate increase was recommended in a report from a 10-member committee he appointed to review a report on the city utility rates from Jackson engineers Allen & Hoshall. He would not say what the new rate structure will be.

“I’m going over what the committee recommended to us, and show why it’s necessary,” Flaggs said Tuesday.

He will also explain the difference between the city’s 2018 fiscal budget, the capital improvements bond issue and the proposed $55 million capital improvements master plan.

“They’re all different, but everybody thinks they’re the same thing,” he said. “Water and sewer (rates) is a fee for service; the charge for using the service. If you don’t use it, you don’t pay.

“We cannot grow this city economically without a quality water and sewage system,” Flaggs said. “If we try and grow this city without improving the water and sewer, then we’re defeating the purpose of trying to grow the city.”

City water bills are based on use, with residents presently paying a minimum of $8.75 for the first 2,000 gallons used and $3.22 per 1,000 gallons for the next 8,000 gallons used. A sliding scale is used to determine the cost per gallon for use of more than 8,000 gallons.

Commercial users pay a minimum of $35.80 for the first 4,000 gallons, and $4.25 per 1,000 gallons for the next 8,000 gallons used. Like the residential rates, use over 8,000 gallons is determined using a sliding scale.

Sewer rates are based on water use. Residential customers inside the city pay a minimum of $12.90 ($6.45 per 1,000 gallons) for the first 2,000 gallons and $3.60 per each 1,000 gallons after 2,000 gallons. Residential customers outside the city limits pay $25.80 for the first 2,000 gallons and $7.20 per each 1,000 gallons for each 1,000 gallons over 2,000.

Commercial customers inside the city pay $28.25 for the first 2,000 gallons, and $3.60 per each 1,000 gallons for each 1,000 gallons over. Commercial customers outside the city limits pay $56.50 for the first 2,000 gallons and $7.20 per 1,000 gallons for each 1,000 gallons over 2,000.

All customers also pay a $5 EPA fee approved in 2015 to help cover costs for upgrading and repairing the city’s 111-year-old sewer system.