Buckeye creates 15‑member water and wastewater rate committee to advise on multiyear rates

Buckeye — The City Council on June 3 voted unanimously to establish a 2025 citizen Water and Wastewater Rate Committee to advise staff and council on proposed water and wastewater rates.

The committee matters because Buckeye’s water and wastewater enterprises have not seen rate adjustments in roughly a decade, and staff said a multiyear rate structure is needed to sustain utility operations, asset management and capital needs.

Terry Lowe, Water Resources director, described the WRC’s role as advising on three areas: rate structure (how charges are composed), public outreach and escalation factors for multi-year rate planning. Lowe said the city manages nearly $1 billion in utility assets and that asset management and predictable revenue are necessary to sustain service. “The WRC will assist staff in what the anticipated rates or rate format will look like,” Lowe said. He said the proposed committee would have 15 members (including two alternates), with seats for one at-large member, six district representatives and others representing ratepayer categories such as HOAs, developers and the business community.

Lowe reviewed a timeline: staff will solicit nominations, bring selections to council for seating before July 1, and the committee is expected to meet roughly every other week through the fall. He said a 60-day public comment period is anticipated in November, with a target for council adoption of new rates around January 2026. The committee is ad hoc and will be disbanded after the work is complete and council adopts rates.

Councilmembers asked staff to include details in the application packet about expected meeting frequency and time commitments so district members can evaluate participation. Council moved to approve the resolution, accompanying bylaws and the temporary suspension of City Code Article 2‑4‑7 provisions (to allow the committee’s formation and operation), and the motion passed unanimously.