PORT ARTHUR — A vote for Port Arthur City Council to approve a rate increase for water and sewer recently failed, leaving its Water Utilities Department out of Next Year's budget for the time being.

At a special meeting September 23, council debated approving the 7.5% rate increase for water and sewer to generate more funds. The water department is currently operating with a negative budget for at least the second year in a row.

The city's water utilities budget is an enterprise fund, meaning it's funded by water and sewer payments. Both City Manager Ron Burton and Water Utilities Director Calvin Matthews have confirmed a negative budget can happen when the city resists a rate increase for an extended period of time.

"If the water and sewer rates don't cover operating expenses and capital projects, then it can go negative," said Matthews.
 

On going projects such as the rebuild of the city's largest treatment plant and main lift station are still in the works, but as of now, there's no money in the water department's fund to handle emergencies or new infrastructure projects without a rate increase.

"We need to continue moving forward and rebuilding the system and we need to rebuild it faster than it's getting old," said Matthews.
 

Long-time Port Arthur resident Phyllis Baker says in the past, she's woken up to find she has no water, adding that the city has gone as far as digging up her driveway to widen pipes and fix the issues.

"You need to take a shower you need to wash your face brush your teeth you could forget about it," said Baker.
 

By denying the rate increase, projects like the pipe replacements that would help resident like Baker will now be delayed. However, Baker says water is her highest bill and she cannot support a rate increase, even if It would help some of the issues she's experienced.

"We shouldn't have to pay the price of the fact that they can't figure out how to supply water to the residents without changing the amount of money that's coming out of their pocket on a monthly basis," said Baker.
 

Matthews says the water utilities department is still talking with the city to establish what projects will be next year's focus and if there will be a rate increase.

"I just hope we come to a resolution with council that they can support and we will implement those projects as fast as we can once we secure funding," said Matthews.