The Kearny Town Council will be voting to raise the water rates at its Jan. 18, 2016 meeting. The council hosted the required notice of intent meeting on Dec. 28, 2015.
Water rates can not be increased without proper notification to the public.
The Dec. 28 meeting was the first meeting and on Jan. 18 the council will host a public hearing to hear public concerns and field any questions from the public on the rate increase. Following the public hearing the council will have an action item on their agenda that evening to vote on the increase.
The proposed increase is $2.50 per month and is intended to be a permanent one. The council needs to consider rate increases for the water rates to help fund needed repairs to the town’s water system. The water system needs more than $857,000 in repairs, explained Town Manager, Anna Flores.
The town has applied for grants and loans from the USDA and the Water Infrastructure Financing Authority (WIFA); however, both agencies have explained that they cannot provide grants or loans to the town for the repairs until water rates are increased to adequately cover regular maintenance and repairs.
Currently residents in Kearny pay $26.45 for 5000 gallons of water each month; the average cost of residential water service in Arizona is $40 for 5,000 gallons each month.
Some of the priority repairs for the water system include re-coating the water tanks, replacing the filtration plant and making needed repairs to the well and booster tank.
Flores explained that all communities are facing major infrastructure repairs maintenance as each community ages. The Town will begin planning for needed repairs to the waste water treatment plant as well.