First, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and other city officials asked citizens and businesses to use less water as the region suffers through a drought.

Now, because people are using less water, officials say they need to temporarily raise water rates by 15 percent for most customers to pay for court-ordered water and sewer system improvements.

More than a dozen residents and others criticized the idea at a public hearing Wednesday evening at City Hall.

"What this surcharge is doing is burdening users for being part of the solution," said Kevin O'Sullivan, government affairs committee chair of the 900-member Building Owners and Managers Association of Atlanta. "We're being charged for using less water."

Chosewood Park resident Jill Smith echoed O'Sullivan's remarks.

"I think we need to exercise a little more patience and do a little better evaluation of our work force before we tax the public any more," said Smith, a member of the city's Neighborhood Planning Unit Y, which includes several south Atlanta neighborhoods.

If approved, customers who use more than 3,000 gallons of water a month would pay the higher rate. The average customer uses 6,000 gallons a month. If approved, the average monthly bill would rise from $84.60 to $92.93.

The increase would begin the first day of the first month after it is approved by the City Council. The rate hike would continue for three months after state officials eased drought restrictions. The council's Utilities Committee will discuss the matter at its April 15 meeting. The council could vote on the idea later next month.

Watershed Management Commissioner Rob Hunter said he understood the frustration, but said the increase is necessary. City officials say they expect to lose about $33 million this year because of consumer conservation efforts. The city is halfway through the water and sewer system improvements, which are expected to cost nearly $4 billion.

"We have to do the capital work and that costs money," Hunter said. "It is a temporary solution to a temporary problem."

Some speakers were still skeptical the city will end the rate increase once the drought restrictions are eased.

Dave Walker, a constant critic of city government, noted only three members of the 15-member City Council attended Wednesday's meeting. He and others argued the city should consider other options instead of increasing the rates.

"This mayor and this council simply don't know how to manage money," Walker said.

Hunter noted his department has deferred some programs to save money as revenues dropped.