FALL RIVER — The City Council earlier this month took the first of two votes to set water and sewer rates in the upcoming 2025 budget, and ratepayers are going to see a significant increase this year of nearly 24% in their utility bills. 

But the vote to increase the rates was not unanimous. 

“There are people who are really, really going to struggle with this,” City Councilor Michelle Dionne said during the April 8 council meeting. 

Dionne was one of three no votes for rate increases, along with city councilors Linda Pereira and Cliff Ponte.

Read more from Jo C. Goode at heraldnews.com.