Following weeks of residents in St. Petersburg receiving unexpectedly high water bills, some amounting to thousands of dollars, an attorney has demanded an audit and hinted at potential legal action against the city.

“As our community, my neighborhood, has been working to recover, these bills are just incredibly disheartening,” remarked attorney Matt Weidner.

Weidner, whose home in Snell Isle suffered flooding from Hurricane Helene, was astounded to receive an $800 water bill for months when he wasn’t even residing in the house. His attention was drawn to the issue after seeing local news coverage on similar billing discrepancies in homes damaged by the hurricanes.

“Why are so many hundreds or even thousands of people complaining about their water bills?” he questioned.

Dissatisfied with the city’s handling of the situation, Weidner insists on an audit, stating, “In good faith, the city must investigate this entire problem because there’s clearly an issue here.”

He has also urged the city to halt any water shut-offs for unpaid bills until the situation is resolved. If his demands aren’t met, he intends to seek a legal injunction.

“We have community members suffering like never before, including those on fixed and regular incomes, who are now hit hard. This feels like a harsh blow. I’m deeply concerned by the city’s actions, particularly threats of water disconnection for these exorbitant bills. I’m requesting that all disconnections be paused while this is under review,” Weidner explained.

The city has been pressed for answers for weeks. Following the State of The City Address on Tuesday, Mayor Ken Welch commented on the issue, saying:

“We’ve undergone our usual rate restructuring. However, I don’t think this is what’s causing these anomalies. We’re talking about thousands of people with extremely high bills. I’ve requested a report from staff, which will be presented to the council this Thursday. It appears to be a combination of factors.”

The City Council is set to receive a detailed report on this matter on Thursday. Moreover, records from the city reveal that 1,200 customers have not received bills since the hurricanes, and efforts are underway to address this backlog.

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(Image credit: Pinellas County)