Charging customers $1 per month on their water bills should help city officials afford the project, he said, adding that “we’re not going to be able to do that on our own.”

In addition to the CSO fee, Woods said the city may add a $1.25 charge to help maintain the city’s hydrants. The city currently pays $80,000 per year to do maintenance on the hydrants, he said.

The hydrant charge is just the latest in a series of decisions supported by the council in order to make the $610,000 in cuts to balance the budget. One of the first budget-saving changes made was the city’s decision to extend city hall hours to 6 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and close the building on Fridays to save on energy costs.

At a recent city council meeting, Clerk-Treasurer Jan Lynch said it was too soon to tell exactly how much money would be saved by this measure.

In all, water bills that once included a trash collection fee of $8.05 will now jump to a total of $11.50 per month for all included fees and rate increases.

The council will vote on the proposal at an upcoming council meeting on either the first or third Monday of December, Woods said.

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Alexandria proposed monthly fees and rate increases

Trash collection increase: $8.05 to $9

New storm water service fee: $1

New hydrant maintenance fee: $1.25

Total change in fees per month: $8.05 to $11.50