Most Logan County residents will soon have higher water bills.

Higher bills are expected because of an expected rate hike from the Logan-Todd Regional Water Commission, an increase that will trickle down to consumers.

Because of the economy, and sluggish economic development, coupled with the loss of industry in the region, the commission is not selling as much water as it needs to meet its financial obligations to the USDA Rural Development Utilities Program, its largest loan holder.

The USDA called for the commission to raise its rates last year but the board declined to do so and will end the year with a $297,000 budget shortfall, said Kyle Kenner, LTRWC system manager.

The commission voted to increase the price of its water by 44 cents per 1,000 gallons in November, leaving its individual water districts little choice but to implement rate increases before the hike goes into effect in March. LTRWC currently charges its customers $3.31 per 1,000 gallons of water. The new rate will be $3.75, or about $2 more for the average individual customer each month, Kenner said.

The LTRWC board is made up of representatives from member districts and cities including Adairville, Auburn, Lewisburg, Russellville, East Logan, South Logan, North Logan, Trenton, Elkton and Todd County.

“We are selling about 3.9 million gallons per day now,” Kenner said, “and with the economy, people are conserving more.”

Some of Logan County’s towns have already voted in the rate hike, and others will take up the issue in early 2010. The Adairville City Council voted last week to pass on the cost to its water customers, unanimously agreeing to increase its water 44 cents per 1,000 gallons. Currently, the minimum water bill in Adairville is $25 with a 2,000-gallon minimum. Beginning in March, it will go up to $25.88.

Lewisburg has taken no action yet, but representatives from municipalities said they expect to raise their rates soon. Auburn decided not to pass on the increase due to a built-in 3 percent hike that goes into effect there next month.

Russellville City Councilman Lanny McPherson, a member of the LTRWC board, said Russellville will likely pass the hike on to its customers in January or February, or face additional budget expenditures of $12,000 to $13,000 per month for the 28 million to 30 million gallons per month the town uses.

“We have been getting by, making payroll and paying the bills and we have put off the increase as long as we can,” Kenner said.