By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
85209.com85209.com85209.com
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • Live Local
    • Eat Local
    • Local Events
    • Shop Local
  • Mesa News
  • Real Estate
  • School News
  • Podcast Episodes
  • Search Homes
  • Sell My Home
  • Cash Offer for My Home
Reading: Multi-Million Dollar Utility Bond Election May Be on the Horizon
Share
Font ResizerAa
85209.com85209.com
  • Live Local
  • Mesa News
  • Real Estate
  • School News
  • Podcast Episodes
  • Search Homes
  • Sell My Home
  • Cash Offer for My Home
Search
  • Live Local
    • Eat Local
    • Local Events
    • Shop Local
  • Mesa News
  • Real Estate
  • School News
  • Podcast Episodes
  • Search Homes
  • Sell My Home
  • Cash Offer for My Home
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
85209.com > Blog > Mesa News > Multi-Million Dollar Utility Bond Election May Be on the Horizon
Mesa News

Multi-Million Dollar Utility Bond Election May Be on the Horizon

Klaus Team
Last updated: April 4, 2014 7:12 pm
Klaus Team Published April 4, 2014
Share
SHARE
Water, sewer requests alone total $364 million
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Mesa considers multimillion-dollar utility bond election in fall
  • Water, sewer tab alone would be $364 million
  • Needs for gas, electric systems also to be discussed
The challenges of being both an old city and a rapidly growing city could force Mesa voters into a big-dollar decision this fall.

Officials last week began laying the groundwork for a likely November bond election to generate money to expand and shore up Mesa’s water, sewer, electric and gas systems.

Unlike Mesa’s two most recent bond elections, this one would have no impact on city property-tax rates.

The past two elections have been for general-obligation bonds backed by secondary property taxes.

Utility work is financed by so-called revenue bonds, which are repaid through utility rates and from developer impact fees.

Mesa voters traditionally have strongly supported utility bond issues. The last time was in 2010, when the price tag was $202 million.

Mesa officials said four years ago they had put some items on hold to make the question more palatable during the recession.

This time, they say, there is no putting things off any longer.

That is particularly true with regard to the long-planned Signal Butte water-treatment plant, which would be kitty-corner from the Apple Co. factory at Signal Butte and Elliot roads.

Dan Cleavenger, who oversees the water and sewer departments, told the City Council during its March 27 study session that Mesa now urgently needs the plant to sustain its southeastern areas.

Water for that region now comes from the Brown Road treatment plant and from wells. Neither source is sustainable, Cleavenger said.

Eventually all of the Brown Road capacity will be needed in other parts of town.

And, Cleavenger said, groundwater is “supposed to be more of a supplement and a backup in consideration for drought. It’s not wise for us to tap into that to rely on it. It’s just not sustainable. It’s much more reliable to use surface water.”

The Signal Butte plant would process Colorado River water delivered via the Central Arizona Project canal.

Demand in the region is soaring. Cleavenger said Apple itself requires enough water to sustain 7,000 households, Grand Canyon University plans a 10,000-student campus in the area, and DMB Associates is aggressively developing residential neighborhoods on land once owned by General Motors Corp.

Mesa officials have told The Republic in recent months that other big industrial users are looking at the Gateway area, and Cleavenger told the council that under present conditions, “we would be taxed a little bit to add that type of facility.”

Cleavenger said Mesa needs the Signal Butte plant to open by 2018, and the only way to accomplish that is to approve bonds this year.

Cleavenger said more millions are needed to replace aging water pipes, particularly in west Mesa. Some pipes are more than 60 years old and are made of disintegrating cast iron or of asbestos-laced concrete.

The same dual problem — new growth and old infrastructure — confronts Mesa’s sewer systems, Cleavenger said.

Mesa needs to expand its capacity at the Greenfield sewer plant owned jointly with Gilbert and Queen Creek, and other parts of the sewer system need replacement or upgrades.

The total bill for water and sewer infrastructure would be $364 million:

• Signal Butte water plant, $123 million.

• Infrastructure such as pipes related to that plant, $66 million.

• Waterline replacement and other system upgrades, $50 million.

• Greenfield sewer plant expansion, $95 million (in addition to $9 million in authorization left over from the 2010 bond vote).

• Sewerline replacements and other upgrades, $30 million.

Frank McRae, who oversees Mesa’s electric and gas systems, was scheduled to outline his department’s capital needs in a council study session on April 3.

The council can add to or subtract from the shopping list before its summer deadline for calling a bond election.

Gary Nelson, The Republic

You Might Also Like

Virgin Galactic Moving Forward with Mesa Assembly Facility Despite Workforce Cut

Mesa Quickly Becoming a Massive Cloud Data Mecca

Mesa Having Free Artmaking Workshops

Are Your Monsoon Ready? Mesa Can Help.

Mesa Fireworks Sale and Use During Holiday Season

Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print

Follow US

Find US on Social Medias
Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Youtube Subscribe
Telegram Follow
Popular News
Mesa News

New Hope and New Life Breathed into Apple Facility

Klaus Team Klaus Team February 2, 2015
Have Your Day in the Sun by Moving Up This Summer [INFOGRAPHIC]
Are the Top 3 Housing Market Questions on Your Mind?
Facts About Closing Costs [INFOGRAPHIC]
Ellsworth Road at SR 24 restricted on Jan. 8
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

About US

Your Community Connection
We provide local resources to our community to educate, support, and make our community stronger. Your Community Connection is a service of Klaus Team Real Estate Solutions with Real Broker. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get local news, market updates, and open houses in the community sent to your email.

 

Subscribe to Your Community Connection Newsletter

* indicates required
© Klaus Team Real Estate Solutions. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account