Swift Current city council passed a motion Monday evening to increase their water and sewer rates beginning in the New Year.

As of January 1, 2018, the City's rates will take a two-per-cent hike for the utility service.

Kari Cobler, acting general manager of corporate services with the city, said 2017's rate wouldn't be adequate enough to meet the operational and capital investments required for 2018.

"When we looked at the 2018 municipal budget, in the preparation of that document, we determined that a two-per-cent increase would generate sufficient revenue to cover the cost that will be incurred throughout the 2018 year," Cobler explained.

Included in the motion passed is a rate increase of two per cent annually beginning in 2019 and beyond that will remain in effect until an amendment is approved by council.

"When we look further into the future and we complete our review we've estimated that an additional two-per-cent increase would be enough to cover the operation costs, as well as any capital investments to infrastructure," she said.

The rates were last adjusted in 2013, for the years 2013 to 2017 inclusive. From 2013 to 2016 an annual increase of six per cent was applied, with last year rate increasing by four per cent.

Cobler said with significant improvements to the water and sewer utilities during 2013-2017 was one of the main reasons the hikes were so much.

"Those (improvements) were all reflected in our rate structure that was brought forth in 2013," she said. "They have been fully funded through those rate increases during the past five years."