Carefree, Arizona Customer Takes Out Petitions for Referendum to Reverse Scheduled Water Rate Hike, which would DOUBLE or TRIPLE the Rates on Some of the 9,000 Customers Affected (AZCentral)

Mar.07, 2009 in Public Works, Water Bills, Water Rates

(March 7, 2009, AZCentral)

A Carefree resident is challenging Cave Creek’s water-rate hike that would affect 9,000 water users in the northeast Valley.

Jim Peirce, a customer of Cave Creek’s municipal water system, took out petitions for a referendum that would reverse legislation to raise water rates in Cave Creek and parts of Carefree and unincorporated Maricopa County. The hike, which could double or triple some users’ bills, takes effect April 13. It is the first rate increase in 22 years.

Peirce has until early April to turn in 70 signatures to refer the measure to the March 2011 ballot. He is also gathering signatures on two initiatives that would require voters to approve future water- and sewer-rate increases instead of the Town Council.

Cave Creek’s council members adopted the increase this week by a 5-2 vote. Council members Grace Meeth and Gilbert Lopez voted against it.

Cave Creek Utilities Manager Jessica Marlow said the extra funds will bring in $2.6 million a year to pay for the town’s water system. Cave Creek has poured millions of dollars into the system to fix its aging infrastructure after water outages hounded the area two summers ago.

Under the new rates, Peirce said his basic service charge of $18 a month would triple. A new, five-tiered rate system also tacks on an extra 79 cents or more per every 1,000 gallons used, with the exact amount depending on the amount of water used.

Dozens of angry residents voiced their frustration at a recent Town Council meeting.

“It should be a criminal offense to increase the price on such a vital resource that we have no other choice to get anywhere else,” Sonja Lockman said.

Others praised the town for salvaging the system.

“There have been really tough choices made about the water, but I think we have made a lot of progress,” resident Janet Moore said.

(Original Article Here)