Zubia Weighs In On Water Rate Hike
- Mar 10
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
By Team Zubia
SCOTTSDALE - As the Scottsdale City Council considers a proposed 4.5% water rate adjustment, longtime Scottsdale resident and community leader Raoul Zubia is encouraging residents to view the proposal through the lens of long-term stewardship rather than short-term politics.
“In a desert city, water isn’t just another utility; it’s the foundation everything else rests on,” Raoul said. “It determines how we grow, how we plan, and whether the next generation inherits a community defined by resilience rather than scarcity.”
At the March 3 council meeting, officials considered water, wastewater, garbage collection, and other rate increases. The final step in the approval process is two months away, after a public hearing.
For a typical household using about 5,000 gallons per month, the proposed adjustment would mean an increase of roughly $2 to $3 per month, or about $30 to $35 per year. Zubia noted that modest, predictable adjustments help avoid the far greater costs associated with deferred maintenance or emergency infrastructure repairs.
The proposal reflects growing pressures facing water systems across the region amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Colorado River.
“These challenges extend beyond any single city,” Zubia said. “Arizona leaders from both parties are working to secure a fair and sustainable arrangement for our state, but local governments still have a responsibility to manage their systems responsibly in the meantime. Infrastructure planning rewards foresight. Taking a measured step today helps prevent a scramble tomorrow. Costs are rising regardless; the real choice is whether we address them responsibly now or allow them to compound into a crisis.”
ABOUT RAOUL ZUBIA:
Raoul Zubia is a lifelong resident of South Scottsdale, a proud graduate of Coronado High School, and a candidate for Scottsdale City Council. Scottsdale is one of the best places to live in America, and Raoul is running to keep it that way by protecting neighborhoods, managing growth responsibly, and restoring professionalism to City Council. He believes the city needs leadership that listens, plans, and acts, while honoring the generations of community spirit that built Scottsdale.
Raoul has served as Chair of the Human Services Commission, Vice Chair of the Protect and Preserve Scottsdale Task Force, and President of Partners for Paiute. He also serves on the EVIT Foundation, the Charro Foundation, the SUSD Foundation, and the Parada del Sol Committee, where he lends his voice each year as an announcer. He was honored with Scottsdale Leadership’s Hodges Award in 2021 and inducted into the Scottsdale History Hall of Fame in 2024.
Through his service, Raoul has remained focused on keeping Scottsdale safe, livable, and economically strong, while preserving the character and values that make the city special. Together, he believes the community can protect what it loves and build a future Scottsdale will be proud of.
