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Mesa adopts new nonresidential water rates after council debate
Summary
Mesa's council approved an ordinance adopting new nonresidential water rates aimed at accelerating parity between residential and commercial customers; Council Member Duff opposed the measure, citing a roughly 20% average increase for businesses and a 77¢ difference noted for residents.
The Mesa City Council on Feb. 9 adopted an ordinance (item 26-011) that updates titles, schedules, terms and fees for nonresidential water utility services, a change staff said accelerates parity between residential and commercial rate classes.
Council Member Duff opposed the ordinance, saying it shifts too much of the required revenue onto businesses after residents successfully negotiated a smaller residential increase. "We pushed all that onto our businesses...now on average, our businesses have a 20% increase, an average of $9.24 a month for 9k gals," Duff said, adding she voted no.
Other council members and staff said the change was intended to equalize the burden across customer classes and that most small businesses use less than 6,000 gallons monthly and are covered by the service fee; one council member corrected Duff's stated residential figure from 77¢ to $1.07 in the debate, reflecting differing ways the adjustments were presented.
After discussion the council moved forward with the ordinance and the motion passed on a recorded roll call of 'aye' votes; the transcript records the motion as passing. Staff said the ordinance provides required notice to businesses before the new rates take effect.
The council directed no additional formal follow-up in the meeting; staff previously noted the utility's enterprise fund contains detailed rate and revenue information if further analysis is requested.
