The city of Scottsdale wants Gov. Katie Hobbs to veto a bill that would require the city to once again provide water to the nearby community of Rio Verde Foothills. 

Scottsdale cut off Rio Verde Foothills from water sales in January due to worsening drought conditions. That left hundreds of homes in the unincorporated community without a reliable water source.

Arizona lawmakers earlier this week sent a bill to the governor’s desk that would force Scottsdale to resume sales, for at least a few years while the community works out a long-term solution. But in a letter to the governor, Scottsdale’s mayor and City Council say the bill penalizes their city for sensible water management.

"This bill forces Scottsdale to violate its state required Drought Management Plan, while risking the wellbeing and interests of Scottsdale residents and businesses," the letter says. 

The letter says the bill does nothing to address the root cause of the issue — a loophole in the state’s Groundwater Management Act that allowed homes to be built without an assured water supply in the first place.