Overview
- The City Council is considering the amended proposal and is scheduled to vote on the rate changes on June 18, with any approved increase able to take effect as soon as July 1.
- The amendment trims SAWS’s original four‑year request that would have raised a typical residential bill by $18.51 monthly by 2029 to a projected $14.80–$16.92 monthly increase by 2029.
- SAWS says the increases are needed to fund a $3.2 billion water and wastewater capital plan that includes about $662 million for sewer mains, $461 million for water mains, and $566 million for upgrades at the Steven M. Clouse recycling plant.
- City financial staff led by CFO Troy Elliott negotiated the change by holding vacancies, cutting a water‑purchasing contract, adjusting borrowing assumptions and creating a banded‑rate mechanism that allows SAWS to use minimum rates without extra approvals but requires staff sign‑off for higher 2028–29 rates.
- The proposal divides council members: Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones and several council allies support the increases to protect the system and bond rating, while other members press for an independent audit and fixes for recurring leaks before approving higher bills, and SAWS says it will return with another request if the council rejects this plan.