Chandler, Arizona, residents are set to pay more for trash service in 2027 with the possibility of water bills following suit, adding about $6 a month — an increase residents say will make the city harder to afford.
Here's what to know
ABC15 Arizona reported that the Chandler City Council signed off on a 4.5% solid waste increase and tentatively backed hikes of 9% for water and reclaimed water and 6.5% for wastewater. Trash rates will rise in January, while the other changes await a November vote.
"An average residence that uses about 10,000 gallons of water is going to see about a $6 increase: $3 from water, $2 from wastewater, and $1 from the solid waste increase," Matt Dunbar, Chandler's budget and policy director, said in August.
City officials have said the increases are tied to rising expenses and capital needs, such as upgrades at water treatment plants and replacing infrastructure.
More background
Even a relatively modest increase can affect day-to-day life.
At the council meeting, resident Michael Oei joined others in opposing the increases. He said the extra cost makes him wonder whether remaining in the city is sustainable.
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"Costs are just getting out of hand. I think for a lot of people, living in Chandler is getting out of reach," Oei told ABC15. "It affects all of the planning that I do when I am thinking about what am I going to eat, where I am going to go, where I can live. It makes a difference."
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