Dozens of Gilbert residents crowded into a town open house Monday, pressing officials about a proposed 25% jump in water and waste rates that would mark a third straight year of hikes. Neighbors said the back-to-back increases are stretching household budgets, and several raised concerns about new meters and unexpectedly large bills.
At the first of two scheduled public sessions, residents grilled staff and elected leaders on affordability and transparency, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. The meeting was billed as a chance to get answers before the Town Council takes up the rate proposal later this month, the station reported.
What's on the table
The plan offers two main options for water rates: a single 25% increase in April 2026, or a phased approach with two 14% increases in 2026 and 2027, according to ABC15. On top of that, changes to trash service would add roughly 2% for residential customers and about 20% for many businesses. Town materials describe the options as part of a multi-year plan to cover enterprise needs.
How much it could add to your bill
The town's draft rate study breaks down what that might look like on a typical bill. For a single-family home with a 3/4-inch meter using 5,000 gallons, the monthly water charge would rise from about $51.48 now to roughly $64.26 under the single 25% option. A customer using 10,000 gallons would see a monthly charge jump from about $65.99 to $82.30 under the same scenario.
Those figures come from the Town of Gilbert draft rate study, which includes detailed tables and a bill calculator for residents who feel like doing the math themselves.
Why officials say it's necessary
Town leaders say the added revenue would fund critical projects such as new well sites and a reconstructed North Water Treatment Plant, while also helping reduce dependence on shrinking Colorado River allocations, FOX 10 Phoenix reported. Officials and staff have told council members they have already reprioritized hundreds of millions of dollars in projects but still need more money to keep the system financially stable.
What happens next
Gilbert has scheduled a second open house from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb. 12, followed by a public hearing and council vote on Feb. 17. If the council signs off on an option, the new rates would start showing up on April utility bills, according to the town's notice.
For residents looking to dig into the fine print, the town has posted a presentation, bill calculator and the draft study on the Town of Gilbert website.
Legal and community pushback
Residents at the meeting urged caution on any new hike, and some have gone a step further, asking the Arizona Attorney General’s Office to review billing issues, ABC15 reported. Town staff say they are gathering feedback and pointing people to tools such as the bill calculator and customer assistance programs to help residents understand their charges as the council moves toward a decision.
