Across-the-board rate increases in utilities such as water, wastewater and trash are being proposed for Mesa residential and commercial customers.
Council on Oct. 5 is expected to approve a notice of intent to hike rates, which would go into effect Feb. 1. The increases were presented at a recent study session, where most of the focus was on water, which was timely given severe cuts beginning next year in the state’s share of water from the drought-impacted Colorado River.
“I was bracing myself like, it’s going to be a tough year,” Councilwoman Jenn Duff said Sept. 24. “I’m absolutely amazed that our rates are kept where they are, given especially around water and the crisis we’re going in, and all the infrastructure there, and all the projects we need to do in order to be sustainable in especially water and other services.
“I appreciate the capacity fee making that large impact. Because I do worry that we sometimes disband our capital projects again and again to keep our rates low. And that catches up with you and then you end up being a Gilbert one day.”…