GILBERT, Ariz. — Watering your lawn in Gilbert will soon be a lot more expensive.
During Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, officials approved raising water rates by around 50%. The rate increase will begin in April 2024. It will also put the town in debt $80 million because a cash bond for that same amount would be used for water projects.
The Gilbert Town Council approved the increase in a 7-0 vote Tuesday night.
A few residents in attendance yelled out in anger with the approval.
With the rate increase, a $60 water bill will turn into $90 a month. Residents can check to see how much their bill will go up on the town's website.
Town officials said the increase in rates is needed due to aging infrastructure, water shortages, and a need to maintain and reconstruct treatment plants to prevent potential water quality issues.
When town officials discussed the proposal last November, the council, begrudgingly, preferred this option over the other increase that was proposed. The other option would have raised rates by about 130% in April but there would have been no debt.
Gilbert isn’t the only place where water rates are going up.
In Mesa, the city council approved a water rate hike, increasing customers' bills by 3%, according to a city spokesperson.
Those living in Phoenix noticed their bills go up in October when the city's water rate increased after the local city council approved the hike in June.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.