county water augmentation authorities; bonds

SB 1616 allows Arizona counties to establish water augmentation authorities that can issue bonds to finance water projects like storage facilities, treatment plants, or water rights acquisition. It defines "operating units" (including cities, towns, water companies, and tribes) that pay fees for services, with fees set by contract rather than state regulation. The bill streamlines bond approval by requiring board resolutions with financial data and public hearings before issuing bonds, while clarifying how bond funds are managed and invested. This primarily affects counties creating such authorities and their contracting partners, not general residents.