HAYDEN - The Hayden City Council has approved a series of annual increases of the sewer-user rate.

The current rate is $52 every other month, but will now increase to $57.72 in March.

From there, it steps up to $63.50 in 2015, to $69.84 in 2016, and to $76.84 in 2017.

Stefan Chatwin, Hayden city administrator, said the adjustment was needed to keep up with the increase in operation and maintenance costs of the treatment plant and sewer infrastructure.

Money also is needed for upgrades to the treatment plant because of more stringent permit requirements for effluent discharged into the Spokane River.

The city council has required city staff members to provide an annual update on sewer financing and budgeting relative to the rate increases and progress on capital projects, Chatwin said.

"They want to ensure everything is on track and that the rate increases are covering what they are designed to cover," Chatwin said. "They also want to make sure we haven't raised rates too high each year beyond what the city needs to meet our sewer financial obligations."

The city of Hayden had a public hearing on the rates on Jan. 21.

The city has identified about $19.5 million in planned capital improvement and replacement projects during the next 12 years.