PERRY, Ga. (WGXA) — Several Perry residents have raised concerns about their water bills, which they say have inexplicably increased over the past few months. Jeremy Gibbs, one of the affected residents, noticed unusual discrepancies on his bill.

“I’ve noticed some discrepancies on my bill in the past. For example, we weren’t here for a week or two a month and the amount still went up,” Gibbs explained.

Gibbs said his water bill started to rise in the middle of the summer, and while he doesn’t blame the city of Perry entirely, he believes the city should take some of the responsibility. “There are several factors that could cause an increase, but I think some of them could be meter issues,” he said.

Another resident, Anthony Grace, has struggled with rising water bills for years and has other concerns. Grace claims the city charges for services that do not benefit his neighborhood at all. “Why are we being charged these extra fees when they are not benefiting this neighborhood?” he asks.

In response to these concerns, a city spokesperson clarified that residents do not receive traditional water bills, but rather a “city services” bill that includes various fees for services such as water and gas usage. City Manager Lee Gilmore stated he is not aware of any complaints regarding these bills. According to the city, the current water rate in Perry is 0.4383 per 100 gallons.

Gilmore raised the possibility of relief for residents concerned about their rising bills. “We have not implemented procedures that reduce costs just for the sake of reducing costs,” he said, stressing that seasonal changes have little impact on the bill. “There is no appreciable difference in the amount of your bill whether it is summer or winter. In other words, depending on family size, the average is about the same.”

While some residents suspect faulty meters may be the cause, Gilmore downplays the likelihood of widespread meter problems. “There could always be faulty meters, but by and large that’s not the case. I don’t think it’s an overwhelming problem.”

Gilmore also explained that each service charge on the bill is allocated to a special fund that can only be used for its intended purpose.

Residents who have concerns about their bills are asked to contact the City for further assistance.