Months after city leaders raised water rates, the Phoenix City Council is mulling a proposal that may help private golf courses lower their water bills.
A council vote on the golf-course plan is expected July 7. Some city leaders say the proposal will help golf courses use less water and could eventually help the businesses switch to cheaper water for irrigation.
The idea has drawn criticism from Councilman Tom Simplot, who says the plan is unfair to residents because it helps private businesses that should be reducing water use anyway.
Meanwhile, officials from at least two of the seven golf courses that qualify for the water-reduction effort say the initiative might not help them because they've already cut water use.