Gilbert, Arizona, residents are calling for an investigation by the state Attorney General into surging water bills, some of which have tripled or even quadrupled, stirring a wave of concern over the recent utility rate increases and accusations of a faulty water-metering system, ABC15 reports. Amy Bejarano, one of the disgruntled townsfolk, alleges systemic hikes in rates and a lack of transparency amidst the woes of escalating charges that have left her and others in a state of “questionable” circumstances.
As this financial strain tightens, the repercussions ripple through the local real estate market with rising alarm, agents report clients shying away from hefty water bills which are expected to exceed 100% of last year’s rates by next year and some homeowners, in a bid to keep tabs on their own consumption, are starting to record their use themselves but the Town of Gilbert has seen fit to schedule listening sessions and conduct a third-party audit, recognizing the need to ensure a reliable water supply even in the face of aging infrastructure, the need for which was cited by the town’s public works director, Jessica Marlow, pointing to upgrades to the North Water Treatment Plant and digging of nine new wells as essential projects, according to the statement obtained by ABC15.
Real estate agent Dave Rosenfeld expressed concern to Arizona’s Family about the “obviously the big thing in Gilbert,” indicating that some residents are considering leaving Gilbert, a sentiment echoed by fellow agent Ann Schude, who experienced an unprecedented request last week where “The buyer’s real estate agent asked the seller to provide a year of Town of Gilbert statements.”…