How Can I…

8

WATERWATER

1. Attend a Public Meeting: Tucson Water will host three public meetings about new rates and fees proposed for 2018-2022. The same information will be presented at all meetings. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. A short presentation will start at 5:45 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session:

Thursday, March 29 – El Pueblo Activity Center, 101 W. Irvington Rd.

Thursday, April 5 – Miller-Golf Links Library Meeting Room, 9640 E. Golf Links Rd.

Tuesday, April 10 – Tucson Parks and Recreation Meeting Room, 900 S. Randolph Way

2. Participate in a Facebook Live Town Hall, Tuesday, April 24, 5:30-7 pm. See tucsonaz.gov/water for more info.

3. Go online to Tucsonaz.gov/water to read supporting documents, financial plans, and presentations.

4. Attend and comment at the May 22, 2018 Mayor and Council Meeting that includes a Water Rates and Fees Public Hearing.

APRIL 2018

inside this issue

tucsonaz.gov/water

Deputy Water Director Silvia

Amparano provides

important info about proposed

changes to water rates.

(See Working with Water, pg. 4–7)

Your Utilities: Wastewater &EnvironmentalServices

Workingwith Water:Rate Change Background

Water Etc: Provide Input About Rate Changes

2-3

4-7

8

Infographic: What Your Water Bill Funds

6-7

Learn about proposed rate changes and

provide input?

Public InformationEnglish & Español:

(520) 791-4331

CALL CLICK

tucsonaz.gov/water

(520) 791-2639

TDD WATCHSOCIAL

What are the proposed rate changes for Tucson Water’s biggest customer group – single-family residential customers? “All of the charges that make up the water portion of your Utility Services Statement will increase slightly. These include the service, usage, Central Arizona Project charges and conservation fee.”

When will the proposed rate changes be effective? July 2, 2018.

Who makes decisions about rate changes? “The Mayor and Council approve all water rate adjustments. The Citizens’ Water Advisory Committee ensures that recommended water rate changes are kept to the minimum necessary, consistent with Mayor and Council policies and City Code. Rate and service changes require about six months of developing financial forecasts, projecting revenue, determining cost of service for each customer group and more.”

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WORKING

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WATERWIT

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Deputy Water Director Silvia Amparano oversees Tucson Water’s business services and customer service operations. As a certified public accountant with almost 20 years with the City of Tucson Finance Department, Amparano has the experience and perspective to explain proposed changes to Tucson Water’s rates and services:

How is Tucson Water funded? “Tucson Water is an enterprise fund and it must generate revenues to cover all the costs of doing business. Since water sales generate more than 80% of Tucson Water’s revenue, we must carefully calibrate water rates and services to pay for projected annual expenses, capital improvements and debt service requirements. We have to continue to deliver safe, reliable and high-quality drinking water to more than 720,000 customers.”

What’s different about this year’s rate proposal? “Tucson Water is proposing gradual rate increases or smoothing over four years. These would be the smallest increases in the past 10 years. Note that there are other rate proposal options under consideration.”

Will all water customers experience rate changes? “Yes. All drinking water customers and reclaimed customers will see changes to their rates and fees.”

How Proposed Four-Year Rate Changes Would Affect Single-Family Residential Customers

Fiscal Year(July 1-June 30)

Avg Monthly Bill

Proposed Monthly Increase

FY 2018 $35.20

FY 2019 $37.97 $2.77

FY 2020 $41.04 $3.07

FY 2021 $44.38 $3.34

FY 2022 $47.54 $3.16

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Why do rates go up even when we conserve water? “Tucson Water has been promoting conservation and efficiency with its rate structure for more than 20 years. Water customers use the same amount of drinking water as in 1985 – even though Tucson has added more than 200,000 people to its population. However, the cost of delivering water to your home – maintaining pipes, monitoring water quality and replacing old equipment – keeps increasing. Conserving keeps rates from going higher than they otherwise would – in fact, a recent study showed that our rates would be nearly 16% higher if we hadn’t conserved over the past 30 years.”

Can customers with limited income get help with their water bill? “Yes. The City offers a program to provide payment relief to qualified customers. Find more info at www.tucsonaz.gov/water/low-income-assistance-program or by calling 791-5443.”

6 7

Why do rates go up even when we conserve water? “Tucson Water has been promoting conservation and efficiency with its rate structure for more than 20 years. Water customers use the same amount of drinking water as in 1985 – even though Tucson has added more than 200,000 people to its population. However, the cost of delivering water to your home – maintaining pipes, monitoring water quality and replacing old equipment – keeps increasing. Conserving keeps rates from going higher than they otherwise would – in fact, a recent study showed that our rates would be nearly 16% higher if we hadn’t conserved over the past 30 years.”

Can customers with limited income get help with their water bill? “Yes. The City offers a program to provide payment relief to qualified customers. Find more info at www.tucsonaz.gov/water/low-income-assistance-program or by calling 791-5443.”

How Can I…

8

WATERWATER

1. Attend a Public Meeting: Tucson Water will host three public meetings about new rates and fees proposed for 2018-2022. The same information will be presented at all meetings. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. A short presentation will start at 5:45 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session:

Thursday, March 29 – El Pueblo Activity Center, 101 W. Irvington Rd.

Thursday, April 5 – Miller-Golf Links Library Meeting Room, 9640 E. Golf Links Rd.

Tuesday, April 10 – Tucson Parks and Recreation Meeting Room, 900 S. Randolph Way

2. Participate in a Facebook Live Town Hall, Tuesday, April 24, 5:30-7 pm. See tucsonaz.gov/water for more info.

3. Go online to Tucsonaz.gov/water to read supporting documents, financial plans, and presentations.

4. Attend and comment at the May 22, 2018 Mayor and Council Meeting that includes a Water Rates and Fees Public Hearing.

APRIL 2018

inside this issue

tucsonaz.gov/water

Deputy Water Director Silvia

Amparano provides

important info about proposed

changes to water rates.

(See Working with Water, pg. 4–7)

Your Utilities: Wastewater &EnvironmentalServices

Workingwith Water:Rate Change Background

Water Etc: Provide Input About Rate Changes

2-3

4-7

8

Infographic: What Your Water Bill Funds

6-7

Learn about proposed rate changes and

provide input?

WASTE WATERENVIRONMENTAL SERVICESYOUR

UTILITIES

2 3

PIMA COUNT Y WASTE WATER RECL AMATION

CIT Y OF TUCSON ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Your utilities services statement includes fees for your water, environmental services, and wastewater.

Environmental Services (ES) (520) 791-3171 or visit tucsonaz.gov/environmental-servicesPima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (PCRWRD) (520) 724-6609 or visit pima.gov/wastewaterreclamation

Each year the City of Tucson collects more than 25,000 gallons of paint at Household Hazardous Waste sites or events. This paint goes to the Beacon Group, a local nonprofit that provides employment opportunities to people with disabilities. The Beacon team sorts, cleans, mixes and repackages colored latex paint into new 5-gallon buckets that are for sale at a discount at:

EcoPaint – Recycled Latex Paint for interior & exterior use Gerson’s Used Building Materials 4726 S. County Club Blvd. gersonsbuildingmaterials.com

By purchasing quality recycled paint, you’ll save money, provide meaningful employment, and keep paint out of landfills and the environment.

Help Others & Save $

Purchase Recycled Paint