Rocky Mount council schedules in-depth review after residents report double billing and large unexplained charges
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Summary
Residents told the council they received multiple utility bills since December and cited inconsistencies; City Manager Elton Daniels said the city issued a one-time billing schedule correction, that no duplicate services were billed, and that a committee-of-the-whole presentation and the state auditor's review will provide detail within 30–45 days.
Residents pressed the Rocky Mount City Council on apparent utility billing errors during a lengthy public-comment period at the March meeting, saying many households received multiple bills since December and in some cases saw four-figure balances.
City Manager Elton Daniels told the council the city implemented a one-time billing schedule correction to realign meter-reading dates with billing cycles and that “each bill reflects a separate and unique date range. No duplicate services were billed.” Daniels said the city expects to return customers to a regular monthly billing cadence in March and will present a full briefing at a committee-of-the-whole session after the state auditor’s review is complete.
Why it matters: Hundreds of residents described financial strain and confusion at the meeting, pressing the council for refunds, clearer bills and accountability. Councilmembers requested a detailed public presentation to explain how many residential and commercial accounts were affected, what caused the misalignment and how the city will prevent recurrence.
What residents said: Speakers described receiving back-to-back invoices and inconsistent nonmetered fees, stormwater or refuse charges that differed across locations, and long delays in official responses. One commenter told the council the public had been “overbilled” and asked, “Where are the receipts for the $30,000,000 that’s missing?”
Council response and next steps: Council members repeatedly called for clarity. Councilman Daughtridge said the public and council deserve detailed answers; Councilman Robertson and others pointed to an independent state audit already underway. Daniels said he would present findings at a committee-of-the-whole in the coming 30–45 days and indicated the city has begun an internal review and sought assistance from third parties and the state auditor.
What the city says about charges: Daniels emphasized that when bills appeared close together it was the result of moving service-period dates back into alignment, not duplicate charges: “The delay in sending the bills for services that were already provided… no additional charges were added,” he said. He added the city will estimate how many accounts were impacted in the committee briefing but will not present individual account details because of privacy protections.
Unresolved items: Residents at the meeting requested an itemized breakdown of rates and charges, a calculator or online tool to help customers see how charges are computed, and firm timelines for refunds or credits if errors are identified. The council endorsed a public committee presentation and asked administration to provide detailed documentation for review.
The council did not take formal legislative action on billing at the meeting; it scheduled a committee-of-the-whole briefing and said the state auditor’s findings will guide any corrective steps.
