Sock producer Renfro’s Jan. 30 permanent closing in Whitmire will not only knot off the remaining socks being assembled at the plant, but also cinch the town’s water usage and revenue, forcing water rate increases.

“We’re looking at going up on water rates. I'm not going to sit here and lie and tell you we’re not,” said Whitmire Mayor Tim Carroll. “The water rate will go up. We have no other choice.”

Much of Whitmire’s budget is fed by its water treatment revenue, and 40 percent of its water business comes from Renfro.

Carroll said the town would give notice at least a month in advance before raising water rates.

The town is looking to save money in other areas as well, and will cut water power usage by distinguishing “what we have to run and what we do not have to run,” said Carroll. He also said the council will likely cut the town’s overall spending and lay off employees.

The newly-elected town council had a rare occurrence of an executive session, a meeting closed to the public, where it discussed laying off workers.

The town has already laid off one full-time employee at the water treatment plant and one in its streets and sanitation department.

Carroll said the town will lay off two to three more employees by the end of the month.

In the meantime, many in the town are hoping for a plant replacement.

The Renfro building went on the state commerce Web site this month to be marketed nationwide.

“If somebody’s searching in California for a building on this side or anywhere, and they put up the criteria, it will come up,” said Carroll.