Editor's Note: Part of this story was written with the assistance of artificial inteligence.
Residents and businesses in Buckeye could see gradual increases in water and wastewater bills beginning this spring under a proposal now under consideration by city leaders.
The City of Buckeye has formally issued a notice of intent to adopt new or increased water and wastewater rates, fees and service charges following action taken by City Council members on Feb. 3.
A public hearing on the proposed rate changes is scheduled for 6 p.m. April 7 during the Buckeye City Council meeting. Residents will have an opportunity to review the proposal and provide public comment before any final decision is made.
If approved by the mayor and council, the new rates would take effect on May 7, with additional phased increases planned annually through January 2029.
Gradual Rate Increases
City documents show the proposal would raise both base service charges and usage rates for residential, commercial and landscape water customers over a four-year period.
The monthly base rate for a typical residential water meter would increase from $30.02 in 2026 to $34.01 by 2029. Larger meters and commercial connections would see proportionally higher increases.
Residential water usage charges would also rise incrementally. The lowest usage tier — covering the first 6,000 gallons per month — would increase from $4.77 per thousand gallons in 2026 to $5.40 by 2029. Higher consumption tiers would experience larger total bill impacts as rates scale upward with water usage, according to city documents.
Commercial customers and hydrant users would see similar phased adjustments, including increases to base meter fees and per-thousand-gallon usage charges, according to city documents.
Wastewater and Service Fees Included
The proposal also outlines adjustments and standardized fees tied to wastewater services and utility billing, according to city documents. These include environmental and administrative fees, account processing charges, reconnection costs and penalties for late payments or returned checks.
Among the listed charges:
- A $5 utility billing fee
- A 1.5% late payment penalty
- After-hours emergency service fees of $100
- Deposits and inspection fees for new or commercial accounts
Public Access to Supporting Report
A detailed report supporting the proposed rate adjustments is available on the City of Buckeye website and has been filed with the City Clerk’s Office.
The city has not publicly detailed specific project costs or infrastructure needs in the notice itself, but such rate adjustments are typically tied to system maintenance, infrastructure expansion, operational costs, and long-term utility planning in rapidly growing communities, according to city documents.
Next Steps
After the April 7 hearing, the Buckeye City Council may approve, modify or reject the proposal. If adopted, the first round of increases would begin in May, followed by scheduled annual adjustments through 2029.
Residents can review the full proposed rate schedule and submit comments during the public hearing or through the City Clerk’s Office.
