Carefree strikes deal to mitigate Scottsdale water rates
by Brian DiTullio

CAREFREE – Carefree Water Company last week adopted amendments to its agreement with the City of Scottsdale that secure lower water costs in the face of that city’s upcoming rate hike.

In exchange for limiting the amount of groundwater pumped to less than 500 acre feet a year, Carefree will get a better rate from Scottsdale that will save the town more than $38,000 a month. The rate agreed upon is $2.46 per 1,000 gallons, plus applicable service charges.

“We would be paying a tremendously higher rate than we’re paying now (without this agreement),” said water company Manager Stan Francom, adding this is only a modification to the existing contract, not a new contract.

Francom also noted the agreed upon rate already had been figured into this year’s budget and would not affect monthly bills.

In response to questions from the water board, Francom said the town is not obligated to take any water from Scottsdale, but that the contract provides the ability to purchase water from the city when needed. He also explained the reason for the groundwater restriction is the idea of water conservation put forth by Scottsdale.

“We should have no trouble keeping under that limit (500 acre feet per year),” Francom said. “There is no downside to this for us.”

Board President Wayne Fulcher thanked Francom and Town Manager Jon Pearson for their work in getting the deal done.

Ironically, while this measure was adopted to mitigate a water rate hike in Scottsdale, Carefree passed one of its own that takes effect this month. Carefree resident Wayne Anderson, who is Cave Creek’s town engineer, spoke on the recent rate hike during Call to the Public at the regular town council meeting.

Anderson told council the town’s water rates are not family friendly, and noted his own large family as an example. He suggested the water company look into a waiver of the excess water service surcharge for large families who might not be able to keep their water usage below 16,000 gallons a month, the threshold at which the surcharge kicks in.

Anderson also pointed out a swimming pool might spike water usage for one billing cycle, and suggested looking at residents’ average annual use instead of singling people out month‑to‑month.

“You should look at the average use (over the course of a year) and consider some refunds,” Anderson said.