The City of West Columbia is going to have to account for $2.1 million more-a-year in revenues to meet expenditures for its water-sewer budget.

To make up the potential shortfall, a consultant said an increase in monthly bills of at least $4-a-month for residential customers is required. The bills of out-of-city customers would be about double the amount of the increase for in-city customers.

Currently, a minimum bill is $13.98-a-month for city customers. That would increase to $18-a-month under one of the plans presented.

Bill Bingham of American Engineering Consultants told West Columbia City Council, Tuesday night, that meeting a $9 million obligation to longtime partner City of Columbia for sewer upgrades, and an increase in the cost for sewer service, along with upgrades to the city’s water plant, will cost $2.1 million annually.

Bingham said West Columbia- at no. 180 –  currently has the lowest sewer rate in the state, and it’s ranked 201 lowest of 215 providers in water rates. Combined, water and sewer, West Columbia is the lowest in the state.

The approximately $4-a-month increase to residential customers would be for up-to 3,000 gallons. The increase in rate would be about $4.50-a-month for use of up-to 6,000 gallons.

If that plan is adopted by council, commercial customers would be billed at a different level, according to water line-size  and usage.

Council could also choose a 24 percent across-the-board increase. That option would not require a change to the city’s billing method. The $4-a-month- increase plan would require the city to upgrade its system of billing.