Gilbert Town Council approved an increase in the town’s wastewater and reclaimed water rates Tuesday, selecting an all-cash funding approach to finance a five-year, $230 million plan aimed at rehabilitating and replacing aging sewer infrastructure.
The decision, made during a public hearing, follows months of community outreach and deliberation on how best to address the town’s wastewater system needs.
The council faced two choices: an all-cash option that immediately increases rates but avoids long-term debt or a phased-in increase using a combination of cash and $110 million in bond funding, which would have spread the cost over 20 years with an estimated $72 million in interest.
