The North County Water District has altered its late fees on unpaid bills in the hopes of encouraging long-term scofflaws to pay up.

The water district board decided to enact 1.5% fees on bills that are unpaid after 30 days, with an additional 1.5% tacked on every 30 days thereafter. For example, someone with a bill that has not been paid in 180 days would have to pay the equivalent of 9% of the bill as a penalty.

The NCWD is technically placing these fees on its billing arm, Chadwick Bay Intermunicipal Water Works (CBI), and its two member municipalities that just left CBI to do their own billing, the village of Brocton and town of Portland. CBI, Brocton and Portland all owe significant money to the NCWD due to unpaid bills by water service customers.

Chautauqua County officials reportedly wanted a flat 5% fee on bills unpaid after 30 days, with no accruing penalties. However, NCWD board members didn’t exactly have a thirst for that idea.

“You’re just begging someone to say, ‘I’ve already hit the 5%, I’ll just wait a year to pay it,'” said Rich Lewis, the Portland town supervisor. “There’s no incentive to pay it if you don’t incur any charges.”

The water board voted down the county proposal and approved its own members’ idea.

At its February meeting, the water district board also approved another contract required for Brocton and Portland’s disassociation with CBI. The latest pact allows the water district to sell water directly to Brocton and Portland. A previous contract specified that the municipalities would withdraw from CBI billing.