By Joanna Dodder Nellans | The Daily Courier
The Prescott City Council is following suit behind Prescott Valley Tuesday by considering whether to quit the Yavapai County Water Advisory Committee if the committee doesn’t cut its dues in half.
“We’re in a huge budget crunch,” said Prescott Council Member Steve Blair, who also co-chairs the county water committee. “It’s not like we don’t want to play in the sand box anymore.”
Yavapai County Supervisor Chip Davis said he was disappointed to hear that Prescott also is considering the move.
“It’s kind of sad,” Davis said. “At least they’re half on board. I hope we can work through it.
“Both of these actions at the same time might send the message that there is no value to the Water Advisory Committee, or less commitment to it.”
The Prescott Valley Town Council voted 6-0 (the mayor was not there) April 11 to leave the committee if other committee members don’t agree to let PV cut its $41,578 annual membership dues in half during the next fiscal year. Prescott’s dues are similar at $42,672.
The county and all its municipalities and tribes are members of the committee, and each member pays $1.07 per resident. The committee was created in 1999 to foster communication between the Prescott area and Verde Valley on water issues.
