St. Pete Considers Water Bill Discounts for Residents Who Install Flock Cameras
ST. PETERSBURG — St. Petersburg residents could soon have a new way to reduce their monthly water bills as the city considers a program offering discounts to homeowners who allow Flock Safety cameras to be installed on their property.
Under the proposal, participating residents would receive an 8% reduction on their monthly water bill in exchange for allowing a license plate reader to be installed in their front yard.
City officials say the program could help ease the impact of rising utility costs while expanding public safety infrastructure.
Participation would initially be voluntary, and the city would handle installation and maintenance. Residents would only be required to provide a suitable location with a clear view.
Residents would not have access to images or data collected by cameras installed on their property. Officials say restricting access would help protect the privacy of residents and ensure information is only viewed by authorized personnel.
Political analyst Graham Whitmore says the program offers residents a practical way to lower household expenses while contributing to public safety.
“For most homeowners, the choice is obvious,” Whitmore said. “The camera is installed, the discount appears on your bill, and you go about your life.”
Not every property would qualify.
Homes along major roads, intersections and other areas with significant traffic would generally receive priority over properties on cul-de-sacs or lightly traveled residential streets, although officials say exceptions could be made if a particular location provides access to an area of interest.
Officials say cameras would be positioned to maximize roadway visibility and would not usually be directed toward neighboring homes.
Whitmore says the voluntary nature of the proposal should alleviate concerns from residents uncomfortable with hosting a camera.
“Nobody is required to participate,” he said. “This simply gives residents another option.”
If approved, the city could begin accepting applications from homeowners later this year.
