The Greenville Water Authority has begun work on its budget for 2004, and so far, board members aren't discussing any rate increases for residential customers.

At a special meeting Tuesday night, board members started work on the budget, approving a contract for health-care insurance for employees and discussing collection fees. Total revenue for 2004 is projected at $1.5 million.

Some fee increases were discussed, including the rate the authority charges for bulk water sales and the contract the authority has with the borough to collect sewer fees.

Currently, Greenville's bulk water rates, sold often for filling swimming pools during the summer, are the cheapest in the county, about $10 per 1,000 gallons, said authority Superintendent Bill Brady. That works out to about a penny per gallon; some water companies charge up to 6 cents a gallon, Brady said.

Brady recommended raising the bulk water rate to 3 cents a gallon.