Phoenix homeowners could see water rate hike

PHOENIX - The City of Phoenix Water Department wants more money. 

The city is looking at a rate hike starting next year at seven percent, then slightly smaller increases until 2016. 

"The safety of our water is the utmost importance," says Water Department spokesman Ken Kroski. 

Kroski says the department has made cuts, pushed back plans and kept sewer costs level. He says the increases will cost the average homeowner around $2 a month.

"The people of Phoenix need to say enough is enoughm," says Phoenix City Council member Sal DiCiccio.

He says this is just a slippery shell game played by city departments; make cuts in one area, raise rates in another. 

"They have raised rates by 40 percent over the past few years and the rate hikes for the near future are dramatic," DiCiccio says.

DiCiccio suggests concerned citizens contact their council member to stop the hikes from going forward.

If passed by city officials, the first rate hike would happen in March of 2001.