Apache Junction water district adopts roughly $28 million fiscal 2026–27 budget

The Water Utilities Community Facilities District for the City of Apache Junction unanimously approved its fiscal year 2026–27 budget after a public hearing and board vote.

Mike (District Director) presented the budget package to the board, summarizing last year’s actuals and the proposed estimates for the coming year. He said last year the district recorded about $9.23 million in total operating revenue (approximately $8.0 million from charges for services, plus investment earnings and miscellaneous income), operating expenses of about $4.5 million, capital outlays near $1.6 million and reserve additions around $2.85 million. For 2026–27 the district presented a budget totaling roughly $28 million, driven by $11 million in projected charges for services, an anticipated $10 million in bond proceeds to fund a water public works building, about $325,000 in grant pursuit, and roughly $680,000 in expected investment earnings.

The presentation listed planned capital projects funded in part from reserves and connection-fee accounts. Projects noted include replacement of a frequently leaking 12-inch water main in Baseline, a 16-inch main on Tomok aligned with planned road and storm-drain work, replacement and upgrade of booster pump No. 2, media replacement and additions at the treatment plant (additional vessels are already on-site), and electrical upgrades following test pumping at Well 10. Mike said the Well 10 test pumping produced about 2,000 gallons per minute and that the district expects additional developer-drilled wells (Superstition Vistas) to add capacity.

Chairperson Wilson opened the public hearing on the budget; no members of the public spoke. The board then moved and seconded approval of Resolution 2026‑003, "A resolution of the board of directors of the Water Utilities Community Facilities District, City of Apache Junction, Arizona, adopting estimates of expenditures…for fiscal year 2026–2027." Roll-call votes were recorded with Board members Cross, Hec, Johnson, Vice Chairperson Schroeder, Nesser, Ser and Chairperson Wilson voting yes; the motion passed unanimously.

Mike also summarized the district’s involvement with the Bartlett Dam sedimentation mitigation work coordinated with Salt River Project and 22 other cities. He said the district is roughly at 30% design for that work and expects final design and construction decisions to come later, with full project timelines stretching into the 2030s.

The board adjourned after a short district-manager segment in which Acting Brian reported no additional items and Mike thanked the board for approving the rates and infrastructure funds.

Next steps: having adopted the budget, the district will proceed with the identified capital projects and bonding plans; specific project timelines and procurement steps were not specified in the meeting record.