ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - St. Petersburg resident Erika Shrauger was hit with a staggering $4,000 water bill in September, despite being out of town for work for two months.

The issue, which remained unresolved until she contacted FOX 13, has highlighted potential systemic issues within the city's billing department.

The backstory:

Shrauger, who has been dealing with the fallout since September, described the moment she opened the bill as panic-inducing.

"I about had a heart attack, literally just panic. ‘How could this be?’ ‘How could I possibly pay this?’" she recounted.

Upon returning home, Shrauger discovered the hefty bill waiting for her. Although the city replaced her water meter, she was left to negotiate the bill on her own, accruing hundreds of dollars in late fees over the

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