Notices of intent for new, adjusted water fees passed by Queen Creek council

While the discussion focused on the creation of a new water resource fee, the Queen Creek Town Council also unanimously approved on Wednesday five additional notices of intent to increase or adjust other water and wastewater fees.

One notice deals with a proposed cost-of-service rate adjustment to monthly water rates. Water rates were last increased by 15% in 2025, following a previous increase in 2010.

“The annual revenue base of monthly water rates is approximately $42.8 million. The water rate cost-of-service adjustments are projected to increase revenues about $4 million,” according to a staff report. “Approximately $2.4 million of the increase in revenues will come from an increase in landscape and hydrant rate adjustments.”

Of the three single-family tier rates, two will decrease under the new rate and one will increase. The tier 1 rate, up to 10,000 gallons, will drop from $2.04 to $1.50 per month. The tier 2 rate, between 10,000 gallons and 20,000 gallons, will decrease from $2.73 to $2.50 a month. The tier 3 rate, more than 20,000 gallons, will rise from $3.40 to $4 a month.

Uniform rates per 1,000 gallons, plus the base rate will be $1.50 for multifamily, $2.50 for non-residential, $4 for landscape and $9 for hydrants.

The council is also considering an increase in the new development water capacity fees, which are one-time fees charged to new construction “intended to offset the cost of new water delivery infrastructure built related to growth,” a staff report stated.

There is also the proposed establishment of a new development water resource capacity fee that will be charged to new construction.

“That is intended to pay mainly for the water that we have to buy to meet the replenishment requirements of 100 years for any new customer that comes into our water service territory,” said Scott McCarty, deputy town manager and CFO. “The reason we’re doing that is to ensure as best we can that the current customers are not paying for new water customers.”

Customers could also see an increase in the wastewater rate cost-of-service fee. Wastewater rates for commercial users were last increased in 2015.

“Since then, the wastewater utility experienced a rate reduction in 2019, while the residential rate structure was subsequently modified in 2021 to adjust the residential cap resulting in customer savings,” the staff report stated.

The current annual revenue base of monthly wastewater rates is about $11.6 million, and the proposed wastewater cost-of-service adjustments are expected to increase revenues by about $200,000.

“Of the total increase in revenues, increases will come from multifamily and commercial structural changes,” the report continued.

Solid waste rates and fees could also increase. The rates for solid waste were last increased in 2013.

The current annual revenue base of monthly solid waste rates is about $5.8 million.

“A 23% rate increase is projected to increase non-growth revenues of approximately $1.2 million in its first full year of implementation,” the report stated. “All solid waste accounts will receive the increases in new fees.”

On Nov. 18, there will be a public hearing on the proposed changes, and the council will take action. If council approves the fees, they will become effective on Jan. 27, with the first bill reflecting the fee on March 9.

The town will be holding public meetings to address all of the proposed fees and adjustments. For a list of those meetings, as well as the town’s overall water strategy and a resource calculator, visit queencreekaz.gov.

Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org. Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.