HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council has reached a consensus to hold off on the proposed increases in water and sewer rates for one year.

During today’s city budget meeting the Council agreed that the rate increases will not begin until 2018. After six years of flat water and sewer rates the city decided that it needed to step up revenue for both departments and conducted a rate study.

With that study the city decided to increase sewer rates by 11 percent next year and then have five to six percent increase each year through 2021. Water rates would increase by five and a half percent starting next year and running  to 2021. During Tuesday’s budget meeting the Council asked public works to rework the numbers, and revise a budget that will allow them to defer the increase for one year.

Under the proposal, sewer rates would increase by nearly eight dollars per month over a five year period, and more than nine dollars per month for water.