The Norman City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to hold a special August election to determine rate increases for sanitation and water rates.

If the sanitation increase passes, residential sanitation service will increase by $1 each year for the next three years. Commercial sanitation rates would increase by at least 6 percent each of those years.

If the voters pass the water ordinance, rates would increase by $0.25 per 1,000 gallons for the first 5,000 gallons. After that, rates would increase by $0.15 per 1,000 gallons for the next two years. Rates would increase if water usage passed 5,000.

At the meeting, Norman resident Janet Coker asked why the ordinances couldn’t be voted on during a regular election.

“We would have more participation (in a regular election) and it wouldn’t cost us anything except counting the ballots,” Coker said.

Citywide special elections generally cost the City of Norman about $27,000 to hold, said city clerk Brenda Hall.

Norman Mayor Cindy Rosenthal said many of the costs associated with holding a special election still apply if the ordinances were voted on during a normal election.

Out of the possible dates for the election, Aug. 24 made the most sense, City Attorney Jeff Bryant said.