East Lyme — The Water and Sewer Commission has approved water and sewer operating budgets for 2015-16 that represent about an 8 percent increase, but the commission anticipates higher revenues will help offset those increases.

The sewer budget, approved by the commission on April 28, stands at $2,102,079, or 8.2 percent more than the current year's adopted budget. The approved water budget is $2,723,127, or 8.1 percent more, according to budget documents.

But the town is also seeing higher revenues for the water and sewer departments, said Public Works Director Joe Bragaw in an email to The Day.

The commission is anticipating a possible 2.5 to 3 percent sewer increase, and a zero to 1.5 percent increase for water rates, when the commission proposes rates in the fall of 2015. The proposed rates will depend on how well the revenue projections come to fruition, he explained.

The commission reviews expenditures and revenues when it proposes water and sewer rates during the fall.

This potential rate increase would be less than rate increases for sewer and water over the last few years, Bragaw said. In the fall of 2014, the commission raised sewer rates by 8 percent and water rates by 5 percent.

Some areas of increase for the water operating budget include additional funding for contingency and the regional water interconnection, a system allowing water to be sent between New London and East Lyme that will be fully online.

For the sewer operating budget, areas of increase include additional funding to more accurately reflect the amount of chemicals used annually to reduce odors at the pump station, a repair to a sewer truck, and a $50,000 payment to the town's sewer assessment fund to continue to pay back previous borrowing.

More revenue is coming into the town now, both because of increased development in town and prior rate increases, Bragaw said.

Copies of the water and sewer budgets will be available at the annual town meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, May 11, at the East Lyme High School auditorium.

k.drelich@theday.com

Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich