Lebanon — The City Council unanimously approved 7 percent rate increases for water and sewer users on Wednesday night, though some councilors acknowledged they were approving the increase reluctantly.

The average household can expect to pay about $83 annually in additional fees for the two services when they take effect on Jan. 1, something that didn’t sit well with a handful of residents who voiced opposition during a public hearing at the meeting.

“When is enough enough?” resident Ronnie Robinson asked. “It is getting unsustainable.”

Robinson, who is retired and lives on a fixed income, said if the city keeps increasing the bills, she may have to move out of the home she has lived in for more than 20 years.

Resident Terri Munsey-Ballou also expressed similar concerns.

“Our water-sewer bill has tripled since I’ve lived here in the last 15 years,” Munsey-Ballou said. “It is getting tougher and tougher to make ends meet. It is not easy out there.”

The rates also will have an impact on businesses in the city, and Joe Asch, the owner of the River Valley Club, said he was “astounded” to see 7 percent increases.

Asch said he paid just over $100,000 in property taxes last year, and about $58,000 in water and sewer bills.

“On a per-gallon basis, that is just over double what we paid about 10 years ago,” Asch said. “To add 7 percent on something that has doubled over the last 10 years indicates to me there is a real problem somewhere.”

Last year, the council adopted new rates, increasing the average household bill by $60. Under the new rates adopted on Wednesday night, the average Lebanon household can expect to pay roughly $420 in water bills and $850 in sewer costs annually.

Councilor Bill Finn acknowledged that continued increases aren’t sustainable, and he and other councilors made it clear they weren’t pleased that they had to institute the hikes.

Councilor Karen Liot Hill said the city is in the position it is in now because past councils didn’t complete projects that they should have years ago, such as separating storm runoff from sewage lines.

“Unfortunately, we have to do tough things because people in the past have not made tough decisions,” Liot Hill said. “We are still recovering from a long time of artificially low rates.”

Public Works Director Mike Lavalla and Finance Director Len Jarvi addressed the council and the audience during the meeting.

Lavalla said debt is the main driver of the increases, as well as a rise in costs of discharging wastewater to Hanover.

Overall, Jarvi estimates, the new rates will generate an additional $400,000 next year, and a total of $3 million by 2020.

The city is planning to complete a study in mid-2017 that will explore billing structure along with future rates.

In addition, Jarvi said, the city will take a look at how Lebanon’s rates stack up to those in neighboring towns and across New Hampshire.

Voting down the increase wouldn’t have done anyone any favors, Liot Hill said.

“I think Councilor Finn used the word ‘distaste;’ it is with great distaste that I’d offer such a motion,” Liot Hill said before the council cast its unanimous vote. “And I suspect it was with distaste that Councilor (Clifton) Below offered his second.”

Jordan Cuddemi can be reached at jcuddemi@vnews.com or 603-727-3248.