With devastating cuts likely coming to the state’s share of Colorado River water, Arizona cities have been gearing up to diversify their water supplies. Yet, despite grave and passionate warnings — from experts, residents and even former city leaders — one East Valley city is ditching critical water funding.
On Tuesday evening, the affluent suburb of Scottsdale unanimously passed a $2.1 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-27 that didn’t include $233 million for various water projects, both active and planned. In its place, the budget included $100 million for “water source and supply.” The change — which leaves critical water resources, like a wastewater purification facility, without assured funding — elicited spirited criticism from attendees at the meeting.
“Scottsdale is not yet in a crisis,” said Bruce Hallin, the former director of water supply for the Salt River Project, during the public comment portion of the meeting. “But without significant investment in water infrastructure today, we are placing undue risk on future generations.”…