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Avondale City Council Approves Proposed 15 Percent Water Rate Hike

The Avondale City Council approved a proposed rate increase earlier this week.

This would be the first water rate hike in Avondale since 2009, and it would not be gradual — 15 percent this year, and then another 15-percent hike in 2018 and 2020.

The council approved the proposed 15 percent because, as Avondale Financial Director Abbe Yacobin said, in the six years without an increase the water infrastructure has aged and needs updating.

“And I’ve seen massive rate increases when you don’t do one for several years because while you’re trying to be kinder in the tough economic downturn, the cost of doing business and the infrastructure needs go up,” Yacobin said

Former city official Betty Lynch says while the rate hike is necessary, there’s a better way to do it that gives residents a more gradual increase each year.

“Instead of just spreading it over the period of time and put a smaller amount each time, that would be far better for every resident including the senior citizens who are on a fixed income," Lynch said.

The average Avondale resident will see about $3 more on the water bill starting this year if the hike is adopted.

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Casey Kuhn was a senior field correspondent at KJZZ from 2015 to 2019.