Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio is blowing the whistle on his fellow Councilmembers who decided to raise residents’ water rates only to turn around and spend over $300,000 in membership dues.
Councilmembers Debra Stark, Laura Pastor, Daniel Valenzuela, Kate Gallegos, Thelda Williams, and Mayor Greg Stanton voted in favor of the payout. Councilmembers Sal DiCiccio, Jim Waring and Michael Nowakowski opposed this expense.
“Last year, the Phoenix City Council voted on a large water rate increase. Today we found out where some of that money is going,” said DiCiccio in a press release. “The water rate hike was outrageous and unjustified. Today we are seeing where those taxpayer monies are going and citizens should be disappointed.”
The Phoenix City Council approved, on a 6-3 vote, to pay $386,956 in membership fees for the Water Services department. Voluntary Membership Fees:
$20,492 to be a member of the American Water Works Association
$9,605 to be a member of the Metropolitan Water Agencies
$46,440 to be a member of the National Association of Clean Water Agency
$45,540 to be a member of the Water Environment and Reuse Foundation
$220,379 to be a member of the Water Research Foundation
$9,500 to be a member of the WateReuse Association
$35,000 to be a member of the Western Urban Water Coalition
$386,956 in total membership dues
These memberships are not required and thus are a voluntary expense.