Chandler Council OKs 9% water, other utility rate hikes
Courtesy of City of Chandler
Citing the skyrocketing cost of utility hardware and capital projects as one of a few main factors, the Chandler City Council voted Oct. 15 for preliminary approval of an ordinance and approval of a resolution that will put new rates into effect Jan. 4 of next year.
After speeding up what had recently been a two-year process, the Chandler City Council has decided to raise utility rates for the second time in less than a year.
Citing the skyrocketing cost of utility hardware and capital projects as one of a few main factors, Council completed its utility rate increase process Oct. 15 with preliminary approval of an ordinance and approval of a resolution that will put new rates into effect Jan. 4 of next year.
Chandler Councilmember and mayor-elect Matt Orlando was the lone "no" vote as the ordinance for the three increases passed, 6-1. He voted in favor of the resolution to increase the solid waste rates, which passed 7-0.
Orlando, the longest-tenured councilmember, pointed out the city is doing a great deal to find savings, like using LED lighting or newer water meters.
"I really want to take a more concrete look, next year, at who is using what resource, and where," he said before the Oct. 15 votes.
The ordinance, which must be approved at a November second reading in order to become law, includes a 9% across-the-board increase for water service and for reclaimed water, as well as a 6.5% increase for wastewater service.
The residential solid waste service 4.5% was approved in a separate resolution, which doesn't require a second reading.
The increases come on the heels of a vote in January of this year by Council to approve rate increases that went into effect in March. Those included a 15% increase for water and wastewater, 6% for solid waste and 18% for reclaimed water.
About seven people spoke up about the rate increases at the Oct. 15 public hearing that was part of the regular meeting. All seven brought up the across-the-board element to the rate hikes, saying city leaders should have adopted a formula in which Intel and the largest users pay higher rates.
One speaker, Mark Jiang, a Hamilton High School student, pointed out that Chandler's brag on how it has among the lowest utility rates among Valley cities is not the flex city leaders think it is.
"Look at how many things cost more in Chandler than other places in Arizona," Jiang said. "We need to address and oppose these smaller increases now, before they make life unaffordable in all categories."
One person who filled out a comment card and spoke with the Chandler Independent after the meeting, Indigo Chai, echoed what a couple of speakers said about thinking of the lowest-income Chandler residents.
"We need to think about more than just ourselves on this," Chai said. "Sure, it's only $6 or $10 per month difference, but that's a meal for some people, and that can really add up fast."
City staff encouraged interested people to read its proposed utility rates webpage, found by clicking here.
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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