News Summary

The St. Petersburg City Council has initiated a management review of the city’s water billing system due to ongoing resident complaints of excessively high bills. This decision follows reports of alarming billing discrepancies, including bills exceeding $50,000. Despite previous measures, residents express concerns that new solutions may not adequately address current issues. The review aims to hold the administration accountable for unresolved grievances and improve the overall water billing process, with an audit already underway by Florida’s Department of Government Efficiency.

St. Petersburg City Council Initiates Management Review Amid Ongoing Water Billing Controversy and Public Outrage

The St. Petersburg City Council has embarked on a management review of the city’s billing and collections department in response to persistent complaints from residents regarding excessively high water bills. This significant decision was made during a Budget, Finance, and Taxation Committee meeting held on a Thursday and acknowledges the mounting public frustration surrounding billing issues that have been prevalent for over a year.

Residents have reported concerning instances of skyrocketing water bills, with some bills exceeding thousands of dollars. Notably, a resident received a shocking water bill exceeding $50,000, and before last year’s hurricane season, another was faced with a staggering $300,000 charge. These significant billing discrepancies have prompted the city council’s action to investigate the underlying issues.

Attorney Matthew Weidner, the president of the Eden Isle Civic Association, emphasized the urgency for the city council to take control of the situation and hold the administration accountable for their failure to resolve these billing concerns. County Council member Brandi Gabbard attributed the ongoing public complaints to media coverage, further reinforcing the council’s commitment to investigate the matter thoroughly.

Previously, in March, the council had approved a $65,000 contract for consulting services to look into billing discrepancies associated with hurricanes Helene and Milton. Despite this step, Weidner criticized the decision to hire external consultants instead of directly addressing resident inquiries, advocating for city staff to handle the explanations directly to council members.

In an effort to rectify these ongoing issues, city administrators announced plans to implement new billing software named Tyler, which is set for mid-2026. However, Council Chair Copley Gerdes cautioned against evaluating the current billing system while a new one is in the pipeline. Residents, including Weidner, have expressed concerns that clarification regarding the existing system’s failures is crucial before introducing new technology.

Current Water Billing Issues

A recent investigation reported that from September 2024 to February 2025, over 6,000 water bill adjustments were made, with 3,285 of those resulting from meter over-reads. Residents like Michelle McConnell have faced significantly inflated bills, often much higher than their average usage, even after verified leak tests showed no problems. McConnell has been entangled in a protracted battle to contest her water bill that totaled over $2,200, meanwhile paying $279 monthly to maintain her water service while waiting for a resolution.

Oversight and Audits

Florida’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is also conducting an audit of the city’s financial practices, including the water billing system. City officials have publicly admitted to the billing issues, describing them as a result of a “perfect storm” arising from flooding, outdated meters, and flawed billing estimation practices. Moreover, the City Council has recently approved modifications to the city code that include provisions for awarding billing adjustments in cases of unexpected or unusual events like flooding.

New Measures for Residents

New measures have been set in place to offer relief to residents experiencing irregular or excessively high billing statements, which include expedited bill adjustments. City staff has assured council members that these adjustments can now be more efficiently managed within the water department, rather than relying on the Utility Billing Review Committee.

Despite these newly implemented measures, residents such as Weidner have reiterated their belief that the proposed solutions are only geared towards addressing future problems without adequately resolving the current grievances stemming from ongoing billing errors.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

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St. Petersburg Residents Face Potential Utility Rate Hike
St. Petersburg Proposes Utility Rate Increase Amid Billing Concerns
St. Petersburg Resumes Water Bill Collection Amid Complaints
St. Petersburg Residents Shocked by Soaring Water Bills
St. Petersburg Pauses Water Shutoffs and Late Fees Amid Billing Crisis
St. Petersburg Residents Facing Skyrocketing Water Bills Post-Hurricanes

Additional Resources

• WFLA: St. Pete City Council Agrees to Review Troubled Water Billing Department
• Fox13: St. Pete Residents Still Getting Giant Water Bills
• WTSP: St. Pete Water Shut Off Due to High Bills
• St. Pete Catalyst: Utility Rates to Increase Amid Upgrades
• Fox13: St. Pete Leaders Approve Solutions for High Water Bills
• Wikipedia: Water Supply and Sanitation in the United States
• Google Search: Water Billing Issues St. Petersburg
• Google Scholar: Water Billing Discrepancies
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Water Supply
• Google News: St. Petersburg Water Billing Controversy

Author: STAFF HERE PETERSBURG WRITER

ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER The ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREStPetersburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in St Petersburg, Pinellas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Localtopia, and SHINE Mural Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Pete Downtown Partnership, plus leading businesses in finance, manufacturing, and healthcare that power the local economy such as Raymond James Financial, Jabil, and Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.