COURTLAND—Residents and businesses in Boykins, Branchville, Newsoms, Drewryville and the Edgehill subdivision can expect $2-a-month increases in their sewer and water bills as part of Southampton County’s new $52 million budget.

Customers of Courtland’s sewer system can expect the same increase; the Town of Courtland bills for water.

All increases will go into effect on July 1.

The base fee for water will be $26 a month, up from $24, or 8.3 percent, and sewer $34, up from $32, or 6.3 percent.

The same increases for water and sewer bills will go into effect for Southampton Business Park outside Courtland behind Food Lion and the Turner Tract industrial Park off Rose Valley Road.

The utility increases are expected to generate a little over $50,000, said County Administrator Mike Johnson.

The new $200 garbage fee will go into effect on July 1 and is expected to generate $1.34 million.

There are some exemptions, including residents who are 65 or older and are permanently disabled with a household income of less than $30,000. Residents who are 65 or older whose home and one acre are worth less than $80,000 also will be exempt.

Also for this year’s budget, the county increased its fee for zoning appeals from $300 to $600 to cover its expenses and conditional-use permits from $500 to $1,000. Both require advertising public hearings in a newspaper. Johnson expects the increase to generate about $2,000.

Supervisors also increased building-related permit fees by 10 percent. The minimum fee for a building permit increased to $27.50 from $25, for a demolition permit $40 to $44, to appeal a building code $330 from $300, sign permits from $55 from $50 and temporary electric service permit $39 from $35.

Johnson expects the increases to generate $9,600.