Members of the Cave Creek Town Council listen to the presentation of the budget June 16, 2026. The Town Council tabled a water assistance policy so that usage numbers could be updated to reflect the current guidelines established in 2025.
The Cave Creek Town Council tabled a water assistance plan at its Sept. 1 meeting so that usage numbers could be readjusted.
The chart shown to council members reflected usage when the program was established by the council in 2014.
The usage began at 5,280 gallons per month from a single user on Cave Creek water to 26,400 gallons per month for a family of five, while the usage numbers for Desert Hills water was 4,530 gallons for a single user to 22,650 gallons for a family of five.
“Many homes use less than 3,000 (gallons), I think those are too high. How did you arrive at 26,000 gallons a month?”
“These were previously in the September 2014 adopted or approved plan program policy,” said Financial Services Manager Bridget Black.
“I think that was way too high,” Morris said. “Way, way too high. Two people in a home without any outdoor water is only 3,000 gallons a month, right?
“I don’t think we’re in the business of irrigating lawns and things,” Morris added. “I would ask that we go back and rationalize these gallons in view of what we’re facing with water shortages.”
The key program changes included that customers who exceeded the allowable water usage for three months within the previous 12 months will no longer be eligible for the program. The customer may reapply for the program after six months of allowable water usage. The other change was a customer who violates the terms and conditions of this program would be responsible for all previously discounted water charges and may be denied or terminated from the program permanently.
There are only six Cave Creek residents currently in the program. Two additional residents were denied entry into the program, one due to lack of proper documents submitted at the time of the application, and one denied due to not meeting income requirements.
The average base cost for the customers in the program was $39.41. Before the reduction the base cost would have been $78.82 per participant, and the estimated annual reduction was $2,824.36.
The program calls for a 50% monthly reduction on water base-rate and water-usage charges. Sewer charges and fees are excluded. The eligibility requirements include: Must be an Arizona resident, live in the Cave Creek or Desert Hills water systems, reside at the service address, meet household requirements, and must be enrolled in a qualified public assistance program.
“It appears that the policy itself, council supports the revisions, but apparently the water consumption that we have, the number in the tables is high,” Town Manager Grady Miller said. “So, we’ll come back with what would be considered more of a lifeline type of approach. And I think that it’ll be consistent with what you’ve been seeing recently with the water rate study.”
Meet Jeff Jeff Wendt started at Independent Newsmedia in January 2023, after 25 years working for Gannett and The Arizona Republic. Started as a high school sports scoretaker, worked up to reporting high school sports and then became an associate high school sports editor in 2002. Also worked in the Design Studio as a copy editor.
Community: Jeff serves on the Board of Elders at his local church.
Education: Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication
Random fact: Attended Game 2 of the 2001 World Series.
Hobbies: Playing video games (yes still the kid in me), watching reality TV, playing poker.
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