Earlier this year, Chandler city officials told residents that a part of their property taxes has been going down the drain — just not theirs.
The Arizona Supreme Court has announced that it will hear arguments in the accompanying lawsuit that says the Roosevelt Water Conservation District is refusing to sell them available water.
Mayor Kevin Hartke said that despite continued talks with board members, there hasn’t been any progress in getting taxpayers any of the water they’re still paying for.
“We're running our legislative case,” said Hartke. “We have a Supreme Court case. And we continue to try to communicate with board members. We communicate with our residents and ask them to communicate with RWCD. Again, we're just asking for something that we can relatively count on.”
With the region’s water supply already stretched thin, Hartke explained, Chandler is asking for a chance at buying a percentage of whatever is available — instead of buying from a set amount once obligations to tribes and other entities.
“They continue to ask us to sign a contract with no guarantee of outcomes,” said Hartke. “So it's a one-sided contract.”
Even as the city’s lawsuit advances to the state Supreme Court: “All RWCD needs to do is come to the table, as they have promised, with a reasonable offer. And we would love to have this behind us. But they have not been willing to do that. And they've not been willing to give us a reason why.”
Hartke said oral arguments are anticipated to start as early as June. The water district didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
