As Gilbert residents continue to voice frustration over unexpectedly high water bills, town leaders say they want a thorough review of the town’s water rate structure and billing systems.
Councilors Chuck Bongiovanni and Monte Lyons each requested study sessions to examine how the town sets and manages water rates, with both saying they want to ensure the public fully understands how rates are determined and what options exist for relief.
Bongiovanni said he wants the council to revisit “the original options we had” and explore new ones. He asked for this to be done after the town's water meter audit is completed.
“We want to look into how bad it will affect our bond rating if we transfer other monies into that enterprise fund,” he said. “We just want to get all different options, including a potential residential/agricultural setting or tier for those people who have livestock, animals, small farms.”
He said a study session could help council and residents understand the consequences of possible funding shifts.
“We want to have a study session with a bond attorney or an attorney who's familiar with municipal enterprise bonds, and we want to see what the effect would be if we decided to take some money from other CIP projects or whatever to put into the water,” he said.
Bongiovanni said residents have contacted him with billing concerns, and some cases have revealed meter or leak issues.
“I hope the residents will give us the time if needed to fix any problems,” he said. “We want to just get to the root of the issue so A, we're not wasting water, and B, the residents aren't paying more than what they're using.”
Lyons, who took office in January, said his request for a study session stemmed from a desire to better understand how the town’s tiered rate system was created and how it affects different users. He would like this to be done as soon as feasible.
“What I'm trying to wrap my mind around (is) primarily how the tier structure was arrived at,” he said. “It just wasn't clear. So I want to understand it.”
He said he also wants to review how commercial and residential customers are charged and whether alternative funding options could help reduce pressure on residents.
“We're going to talk about that because I'm looking at some of the challenges that we've got ahead of us in a few years, the budget gaps that are coming,” he said. “Do we have the flexibility to be able to use funds in different ways in order to cover stuff that may come up?”
Lyons said he wants the town to address the issue proactively.
“There’s a question about the accuracy of the meters,” he said. “And then like I said, the tier rates are a question for me because it seems like part of it is the tiers are designed for water conservation, and I see that being applied more from a stick perspective rather than a carrot perspective.”
He added he prefers incentive-based conservation efforts.
“I would rather see us use incentives that people can buy into,” he said. “I think you get more long-lasting mindfulness and commitment … rather than forcing them to do it.”
Both council members said they hope their requests lead to open discussions that clarify how the town’s water billing and rate systems operate and what steps might be taken to make them fairer and more transparent.
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Meet Tom Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.
Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.
Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism.
Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.
Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).
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