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Board declines to advance resolution opposing Tucson Water’s differential rates for unincorporated customers
Summary
A proposed Pima County resolution condemning the City of Tucson’s plan to levy higher water rates on unincorporated customers failed after supervisors split on whether to pursue litigation or seek more staff-level negotiations.
A motion introduced May 6 would have directed county staff to explore "all things necessary" to seek rate parity for Tucson Water customers after the City of Tucson proposed a rate structure that would charge higher water rates to customers who live outside city limits.
Chair Rex Scott framed the resolution as a defense of a large number of long-time Tucson Water customers who live in unincorporated Pima County. Scott said the city’s proposed differential rates could be applied to roughly one-third of Tucson Water’s customer base and that the county’s constituents include many of those customers. He described the proposals as “insulting” and argued the county should stand against a plan that could disproportionately affect unincorporated residents.
Other supervisors urged a less confrontational approach. Supervisor Ramon Cano urged continued staff-level dialog and said the city’s rebalancing effort was grounded in a cost-of-service study; Supervisor Steve Allen and Supervisor Hines favored pursuing negotiations and shared planning instead of immediate further litigation. The board took a vote on Scott’s resolution: it failed 3–2, with Scott and Supervisor Christie in favor and Supervisors Cano, Allen and Hines opposing.
Why it matters: The City of Tucson’s proposal to charge unincorporated customers higher water rates has drawn criticism because many of those customers are long-time Tucson Water ratepayers who live outside city limits. The board’s rejected resolution would have asked staff to support legal challenges and other actions to push for rate parity. County administration told the board it would pursue staff-level conversations with city officials while litigation remains an uncertain option because the city exempted the county as a legal class in related prior litigation.
Next steps: County administration said it will pursue staff-level outreach to city officials to explore options, including a broader review of how the region allocates water and wastewater responsibilities, and will provide updates to the board. Supervisors who opposed the resolution said they preferred negotiation and data-driven collaboration rather than immediate legal escalation.
