http://qui.live.mediaspanonlinen.com/rss/ Quincy Herald Whig en-us Doug Wilson says in his political blog that more information passed along Tuesday indicates the rate hikes would now be 39 percent. Click here.By DOUG WILSONHerald-Whig Senior Writer Quincy aldermen heard a first reading of ordinances Monday that would raise water rates by 25 percent, add a meter charge of $13.31 every three months and hike sewer rates by 30 percent.‘”We’re trying to adjust the cost so that we’re covering expenses. Right now we’re subsidizing our customers by 17 cents per unit of water,” said Director of Utilities David Kent.The last rate increase was in December 2006.A unit of water is about 750 gallons. Sewer rates are tied to water use and the costs of maintaining and operating the city’s sewage system.Residential customers who use 20 units of water every three months now pay $35.45 and pay $30 more for sewer. If the new rates are imposed, those fees would go to about $38.80 and $39, respectively.However, Kent sent out additional information late Tuesday morning to note the ordinance also would establish a $13.31 meter charge every three months to cover the costs of replacing meters. The total increase for a family using 20 units of water would be $25.66 every three months, or $102.64 in higher costs each year.That would be a 39 percent increase when the meter fees are added to the proposed rate increases.Council members opened Monday night's meeting for any public comments on the proposed 2009-10 city budget. Nobody spoke about the spending plan, which calls for $31.2 million in spending in the general fund, compared with $29.5 million in the current budget. Nearly $700,000 of that increase is because of a 27th biweekly pay period for most of the city's workers. http://qui.live.mediaspanonline.com/new_story/City-Council--TUES2009-04-14T10-10-00