Resident Joanna Durant urges Queen Creek council to consider water rate decrease

During the Queen Creek Town Council Regular Session on March 20, 2025, community concerns regarding water rates took center stage, highlighting the ongoing challenges residents face with rising utility costs. Joanna Durant, a local resident, voiced her apprehensions about the proposed water rate increase scheduled for a vote on May 7. She emphasized that despite claims from the town that there have been no recent increases, the current rates remain a burden for many families.

Durant shared her personal experience of moving from a property in Utah, where water bills were significantly lower, to Queen Creek, where she found the costs alarming. She urged the council to consider not just maintaining current rates but to explore the possibility of reducing them. Durant suggested that the council could take inspiration from federal efforts to analyze expenditures and cut waste, thereby finding ways to save on water expenses locally.

Her comments reflect a broader concern among residents about affordability and the potential impact of rising costs on the community's quality of life. Durant warned against following trends seen in other states, such as California, where high utility prices have become a significant issue for residents.

Following public comments, the council moved on to the consent agenda, which was approved unanimously. The meeting then transitioned to discussion items, indicating a structured approach to addressing community concerns while maintaining council operations.

The discussions from this meeting underscore the importance of local governance in addressing utility costs and the need for transparency and efficiency in municipal operations. As the council prepares for the upcoming vote on water rates, the community's input will likely play a crucial role in shaping future policies.