Water rates would go up more than 25 percent over the next five years under a plan Nevada Irrigation District directors could approve next month, they said at a meeting Wednesday.

NID board members are considering rate increases of about 5 percent for this year.

The district will mail about 30,000 letters outlining the rate hike to tenants and property owners who are supplied with treated drinking water or irrigation water.

The hikes come in a five-year financial plan calling for annual rate increases of about 5 percent per year. A public hearing on the adjustments will be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 25.

Anyone objecting to the adjustments should submit a written protest.

Directors could adopt the increases and the five-year plan following the Feb. 25 public hearing. If approved by the board, the new rates could take effect in March.

The rate adjustments are designed to fund a larger share of the district’s operation and maintenance costs, which now are subsidized by property taxes and reserve withdrawals, NID Finance Manager Marie Owens said.