People who live or work in South Bend might soon have to pay a little more each month on their water bill.

Improvements to the city’s storm water infrastructure are needed, and the funding for them doesn’t exist.

The idea to create those funds through an increase in water bills was approved during budget season, and the Department of Public Works now has a better idea of the cost to residents.

The next step is passing an ordinance to start collecting the fee.

If passed, residents might start to pay an extra $2 each month, and non-residents, an extra $5 each month, starting in June.

The city needs the upgrades, as each weather event brings more and more issues with flooding in the city streets and reports of water in basements.