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El Mirage council approves 3% water rate increases after contentious public hearing
Summary
After a lengthy public hearing and an initial failed vote, the El Mirage Common Council approved Resolution R25-54 to raise water rates 3% in fiscal year 2026 and 3% in 2027 and adopt changes to wastewater billing; debate focused on meter replacement costs, use of enterprise funds, and whether general-fund transfers could avoid a rate increase.
The El Mirage Common Council on May 6 approved Resolution R25-54 to set new water and wastewater rate components, adopting a 3% increase to water rates for fiscal year 2026 and a second 3% increase in 2027 and moving wastewater billing to a flat-rate model with a 3% increase only in FY 2027.
Council members opened a public hearing and heard multiple residents oppose any increase. “If there’s any way you can not raise the water, that would be great,” said Tom George, an eight-year El Mirage resident. Several other residents warned that repeated annual increases and higher rents were straining fixed-income households.
Staff and consultants described the financial drivers behind the proposal. The public works presentation said the city would…
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