UTICA — Several community members attended a public hearing Tuesday night to discuss their concerns about a possible water rate increase in the village.

“From last year’s figures, the wastewater utility is not going to be a problem [for this year]. The water is where we are coming up short, balancing the expenditures to the revenue,” said Lester Grennell, councilman and chairman of the Light Committee.

In 2009, water revenue was $151,025; expenses were $164,800, resulting in a shortfall of $13,775. Expenses include the cost of chemicals used at the water plant, pumps, electricity, gas, salaries and benefits.

“When looking at these figures, at this point, in order to make it through this year we are looking at raising it by 25 cents per 100 cubic feet,” said Grennell. “This is about a fourth of what we thought it was going to be.”