JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Jackson residents are about to see their water and sewer rates go up.

After more than an hour and a half of discussion, the Jackson City Council narrowly approved raising its water and sewer rates for customers.

However, the council voted down a proposal to raise sanitation fees to $35 a month.

Jackson leaders say the increases were needed to meet consent decree requirements, bring the city into compliance with its bond covenants and cover current operating costs within its solid waste division.

Council members voted 4-3 to approve a 20 percent rate hike for water and sewer, with Virgi Lindsay, Angelique Lee, Ashby Foote, and Brian Grizzell voting in favor. Opposed were Councilmen Kenneth Stokes, Aaron Banks, and Vernon Hartley.

With the rate increases, sewer fees will go from $4.47 per hundred cubic feet (CCF) to $5.36 per CCF. Water will go from $3.21 to $3.81 per CCF.