Petition to the Mayor and City Council of the City of Billings

Regarding Public Works Utilities Invoicing System Issues

We, the undersigned residents of the City of Billings, respectfully request that the Mayor and City Council appropriately address widespread concerns with the Public Works Utilities invoicing system.

Since the system’s implementation in summer 2024, thousands of residents have reported questions with water invoices. Many bills have been significantly higher than expected, in some cases 50% or 70%, while in other cases as much as double, triple, or many multiples of normal usage.

The City engaged an outside audit firm. However, their audit report has not provided satisfactory explanations for the discrepancies that residents continue to experience. Instead, the report raises many questions about the integrity and consistency of billing processes, leaving residents without clear answers and without restored confidence.

Our concerns include:

• Excessive and unexplained invoices: Households have received bills many times higher than normal, with no reasonable explanation.
  
  
• Dismissive responses: Residents raising concerns have often been told they must have simply used more water, even when they have no sprinkler systems or when usage patterns clearly do not support the increases.
  
  
• Inconclusive audit findings: While an audit was performed, it did not adequately address the systemic issues that residents have identified, and instead revealed further inconsistencies.
  
  
• Erosion of public confidence: Many residents no longer trust that their monthly invoices reflect their true usage, creating unnecessary stress and financial strain.

We respectfully request that the Mayor and City Council:

1. Commission a deeper, independent, and transparent investigation into the invoicing system, one that directly addresses the questions raised by both residents and the audit report.
   
   
2. Establish a clear and accessible dispute resolution process for residents who believe their invoices are inaccurate, with fair review and prompt correction where warranted.
   
   
3. Communicate findings openly with the public so that trust and confidence in the City’s invoicing practices can be restored.
   
   

This is not just about one household or one bill — it is about fairness, accountability, and restoring the trust between the City of Billings and its residents. While not all the undersigned experienced discrepancies in our utilities invoices, we all support action that responds to the needs of our neighbors and fellow residents. We ask for your leadership and oversight to ensure that all residents are treated respectfully and invoiced accurately.

Respectfully submitted,

The Undersigned Residents of the City of Billings