[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6665513,"mediaKeyId","2352067-4c10a64c5df0ab9ded6a54585dbc76fc","parentId",2352067,"title","Queen Creek staff propose interim 15% water rate increase to shore up utility finances","audioSeconds",4663,"startMs",3793000,"endMs",8456000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2352067-4c10a64c5df0ab9ded6a54585dbc76fc&start=3793&end=8456","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2352067-4c10a64c5df0ab9ded6a54585dbc76fc/thumbnail_3793000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6665513/Queen-Creek/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Queen-Creek-staff-propose-interim-15-water-rate-increase-to-shore-up-utility-finances","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6665513-42caff2ca6d1f1bf43dec2ab28c360c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196927&Signature=BSQ-POshA7vQYbKJxtVkJlYoHe3OG1YfnYh6Gggm~EBZvfV8qLRdLw6D74E1cubeDQMySC60tVS~Sa2OYzqt0AOPix46S2rgwFO6r9bCd676DpzlzochrxdinHQE1dUvt-1cGaaYC1nYja9pNwY4bCKWBzymWA1Ws6pKW2LipBtx~w8pWB~UgPfek3HQK2Imk7dSGzTM3D8Hw5eHM~WY5k6CEWHKg3tRgnJLslYsyEsPwRVremM1DKzpJTdrD51ZuOtw4KWudB~1A6XeGgx0YbY-BuoV9uTARHIz0X5MaFez5vdsrgImacRCA9Os0f~0iAlEc5k-OaSm2Ms7-wX6Qg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Queen Creek","date","2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","article","Scott McCarty, the town’s deputy town manager and chief financial officer, told the Town Council on Feb. 18 that the town needs to increase water revenues to sustain service for more than 40,000 water customers and to address a multi‑million‑dollar shortfall.

“We need to ensure we provide safe, reliable water to our 40 plus thousand customers,” McCarty said, opening a technical presentation that traced rapid growth in accounts and infrastructure investments and explained the mechanics of the town’s monthly water bill and its separate Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD/CAGRID) assessment.

McCarty said staff is proposing an interim 15% increase in the town’s water rates that would raise about $4.3 million annually if consumption stays constant. The 15% adjustment would apply to both the base charge and consumption tiers; for a typical single‑family account staff estimated the change would increase monthly bills by about $3 to $6 depending on seasonal use. Under the staff schedule, the council could adopt a notice of intent to increase rates on March 5, hold a public hearing on May 7 and have new rates reflected on bills issued after July 29.

McCarty described a multi‑year context: the utility’s service area has grown substantially in recent years, staff estimates the town has invested nearly $300 million in water infrastructure and the utility carries about $240 million in debt tied to acquisitions and system expansion. He said the water fund showed a deficit of “a little over $11,000,000” at the end of fiscal 2022–23, and that the reported cumulative deficit stood near $23,700,000 with a working deficit “just shy of $17,000,000” after anticipated reimbursements. McCarty said the interim rate increase is intended to stabilize operating results while staff completes a comprehensive rate and capacity fee study later this year.

McCarty also detailed the town’s long‑running work to reduce CAGRD assessments by acquiring water supply and recharge credits. He said the town’s actions have reduced CAGRD charges by about $45.1 million in aggregate and that, in 2024, the town’s management of replenishment assets lowered those charges significantly for many customers. Paul Gardner, the town’s water resource director, told council that bringing more properties into sewer would affect recharge calculations and that at full build‑out sewer conversions could represent roughly one million gallons per day of additional return flows.

Council members pressed staff on fairness between customers inside the town boundary and those outside it (about 35% of water sales occur outside town limits), on how capacity fees and monthly rates should share costs, and on monitoring direct program costs. Several members, including Vice Mayor Martineau and Council member Benning, voiced support for the town’s strategic goal of becoming a designated water provider so the town can control replenishment decisions and reduce long‑term costs. Council member Brown asked staff to track and report direct administrative costs that might offset the revenue gained from rate changes.

Constance Townon Wilson, the town’s communications and marketing manager, reviewed outreach plans including an online bill‑modeler on the town website, a news release, e‑blast to utility customers, bill inserts and targeted outreach to senior programs and stakeholders. She said staff would place concise signage in high‑traffic town facilities explaining the proposed 15% increase and directing residents to the website for full details.

Council did not vote on a rate increase at the meeting. The council did approve earlier routine consent items and later moved to adjourn into executive session; staff said the rate discussion will return in a more formal calendar with public hearings and a draft rate study later this spring and summer.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Queen Creek - Town Council Regular Session - Feb 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Scott McCarty, the town’s deputy town manager and chief financial officer, told the Town Council on Feb. 18 that staff is proposing an interim 15% increase to town water rates to stabilize utility finances and help address a working deficit while a comprehensive rate study is completed.","taxTitle","Queen Creek, Maricopa County, Arizona","taxId",2212,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6665518,"Queen Creek staff outline temporary events, parking plan for town-owned downtown parcel",0,4664000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2352067-4c10a64c5df0ab9ded6a54585dbc76fc&start=4664&end=4664","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2352067-4c10a64c5df0ab9ded6a54585dbc76fc/thumbnail_4664000.jpg","/articles/6665518/Queen-Creek/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Queen-Creek-staff-outline-temporary-events-parking-plan-for-town-owned-downtown-parcel","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6665518-5fcbfa16461f62fcf562183102e11dcf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196927&Signature=KH6xBBLPnMhaPwLikM6exM6pB5RhwnwT1IFCabYIhCKA3Eu3TtH~mwyekkvs4uW2D30-1~xU-aeitctvQn5rNyj8HsFZ2AyLLK31ZsKQgaVMcNwzvJ2uP92WzBSit5tVHwaMS2K1Ra-0AmpCU4yKAGWOZYLb6CqctcSoBzBPPwyjpdqdKJiWsI-ek--ewvhqzMA2ikTWbot9su96228WYKrgQyeRBUsLV1xSqg6fx7Lr-1-SXrZE9YTcRnej7CnCtOznTAPN7ZRV2zzTJV~75KQOMv34bgMkMtlcP~hjvRSPONq3a-Gv7rmbLEuTqnPuzOEvjycuxDGC9spGkQ8x6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jennifer Lindley, the town’s downtown development manager, told the Town Council on Feb. 18 that staff is preparing to activate a town‑owned parcel just north of Town Hall for temporary public uses and special events.

Lindley said the land is currently striped to provide roughly 400 public parking spaces and that staff has discussed hosting displaced events and a range of short‑term uses including the Queen Creek Festival, a Saturday market, Vintage and Vino, a drive‑in movie and car shows. “Space activation refers to the practice of intentionally utilizing an underused or empty space to create a new engaging experience for the community,” Lindley said.

The proposal would charge event promoters $75 an hour to use the land and require promoters to obtain the town’s special event permit and provide their own portable restrooms and any additional event infrastructure. Lindley said the town will use a land license agreement that includes blackout dates and town‑use priorities and that the effort aligns with recommendations in the recently updated town center plan to evaluate and attract events to the downtown core.

Council members asked about fees and operational costs. Lindley confirmed the hourly fee is higher than the $45 an hour charged at the community library site and said an average special event might last about four hours. Security, road closures and other event requirements are determined through the special event permit process and, depending on the event’s size, are typically paid by the promoter, Lindley said.

Council member Brown urged caution, stating, “I would be extremely cautious in any sort of activation of this space.” Brown expressed concern that temporary uses can create public expectations that the town must continue to provide the space and that staff or taxpayers could incur hidden costs. Brown asked staff to track direct town costs associated with events; staff agreed to monitor and report those expenses.

Other council members supported activation as a way to draw people to the area and boost interest in development on the parcel. Council member Benning said activating the site would “make the land more valuable and drive up interest,” and others noted nearby businesses have reported increased visits when events occur.

The presentation was for discussion only; council did not take a formal vote on the activation plan at the meeting. Staff said it will continue outreach to event promoters and local businesses and will return with more detail as plans and agreements are developed.","Downtown development staff presented plans to activate town-owned land north of Town Hall with temporary public parking and short-term events. Council members discussed rates, costs, and impacts but took no formal vote.","actionData","errors"]

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Queen Creek staff propose interim 15% water rate increase to shore up utility finances

Queen Creek staff outline temporary events, parking plan for town-owned downtown parcel