Less than a dozen JEA customers spoke up to protest a 4.1% increase to their water bill at a Tuesday morning public hearing. Within minutes, the seven board members unanimously approved the rate hike.

"We have calculated that it will be about $2.25 per month for the average residential user," says JEA's Chief Financial Officer Paul McElroy.

He says the over $10-million that the agency will collect will cover the cost of maintaining their water treatment facilities and their infraustructure.

McElroy says tough economic times are falling on taxpayers and businesses, a like. In fact, JEA officials report that they're facing a $10.6-millon shortfall without the $2.25 increase to your water bill. Rising fuel costs and inflation are also expected to lead to additional rate increases in the coming years.

This is the second JEA rate increase in the past few months. The board also approved an additional $15 fee for your electricity use back in May. The greater fees could have households paying an additional $25 a month.

Less than a dozen angry JEA customers spoke out at Tuesday's public hearing. Floyd Carrow was among the outspoken and he found it suspicious that Mayor John Peyton was able to fund the $36-million worth of public safety initiatives for the Jacksonville Journey without increasing fees in the upcoming budget, but - at the same time - JEA is raising fees. The agency is expected to add $210.6-million to the city's budget. Carrow says that comes off looking like a "back-door approach" to funding the mayor's anti-crime proposals.  

The increases won't hit your bill until October.