The Columbia City Council is mulling over its budget, with a 2014 EPA consent decree to improve its sewer system - without hiking water bills.
A 4.75% bump has been suggested, beginning in July - In-city residents would see an increase of about $2.49 per month, while that same figure would jump to $4.24 per month for out-of-city residents.
Columbia water and sewer customers still would pay less than customers in Cayce, Sumter, Charleston, Raleigh and other regional cities.