Macon, Ga. (WGXA) — If you live in Macon, there's some good news on the way for your wallet.

The Macon Water Authority is passing their2026 budget without rate increases.

FY26 figures were approved at last Thursday's meeting, with operating revenues increasing by 5 and a half percent from the previous year.

MWA chairman Gary Bechtel said it correlates directly from water rate increases they rolled out in January.

"We had to do something to catch up with the increased costs to run the business," Bechtel told WGXA Wednesday.

Much of their focus shifts to capital improvement projects like repairing water mains and sewer systems across the city.

Over the next five years, $113 million dollars will be set aside.

Bechtel says the biggest focus is overhauling water treatment plants on Poplar Street and Rocky Creek Road.

The Poplar Street facility opened in 1959 and Rocky Creek's has been going since the 1970.

"We're an older city," Bechtel said. "We've got constant issues with mains, and sewer lines, things like that... that's part of the capital improvement."

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He added that their "wish list" for the improvement projects is nearly 600 million dollars - which he admitted isn't feasible in one go.

Meanwhile, income for the MWA is down by almost 50 percent, per the budget report.

"We're able to see 9 months of the impact of [rate increases]," Bechtel said. "You had others that were thinking we needed to continue to drive the revenue numbers so we could have the sufficient amount in the capital projects."

Could the MWA generate additional funding? Some feel it's entirely possible.

Senator David Lucas presented the idea of a municipal option sales tax (MOST) - similar to Atlanta - at the meeting last Thursday.

It's a one cent tax that goes towards upgrading and maintaining the city's water and sewer infrastructure.

The City of Atlanta says it's generated $700 million since its introduction in 2004.

The chairman says they still need to review if they meet the criteria to make the MOST happen.

"We're not a taxing authority," Bechtel said. "It's got to be done on behalf of us by a taxing authority, which, logically, would be the county."

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Talks of additional rate hikes are off the table for now, meaning Maconites can enjoy their H20 with relief for a while longer.

Bechtel said rate increases of 3, 5 and as high as 9% were discussed at the meeting but did not receive approval.