New year, new sewer rate. This Friday, Fort Dodge residents will see their monthly sewer bills go up again.

Fort Dodge City Council unanimously passed a third reading Monday of the sewer rate increase first introduced on Nov. 23.

The first 3% increase will raise homeowners’ bills to a minimum of $17.80 a month plus $3.44 for every thousand gallons above 3,000 gallons.

The second increase will take effect on Jan. 1, 2022, increasing the minimum monthly bill another 53 cents to $18.33, plus $3.54 for every thousand gallons above 3,000 gallons.

“I think it’s a good idea to continue with gradual increases rather than hitting everyone with a big increase all at once,” Councilman Terry Moehnke said at the rate increase’s introduction in November.

In July 2012, the City Council approved a series of rate increases to address inflationary increases in fiscal years 2013 through 2016. For the last three years, the rate has increased 2% annually.

The city hopes the predictable annual increases will allow the city to focus on system repairs and improvements without the need for large increases in the future.