Leonardtown will shift card and e-check fees to utility customers as it moves billing to cloud

The Town Commissioners approved May 12 a staff recommendation to pass processing fees for credit-card, debit-card and electronic-check utility payments to customers who choose those payment methods, and directed staff to implement a cloud-based upgrade to the town’s utility billing software.

Council action followed a staff presentation describing the planned enterprise move to a cloud-based billing system and new payment options including direct debit and recurring card payments. Staff said the town currently absorbs processing fees when customers pay by card; under the approved change, only customers who use card or e‑check payment methods will be charged the associated processing fees.

Treasurer Sharon Strand and other staff explained timelines: staff hopes to make the cloud-based option operational by September so that recurring or draft payments can be used on the October billing cycle. Strand noted the rollout will wait for vendor implementation and added that the town will not include the change on bills issued before the upgrade is operational. Exact fee amounts were not available at the meeting; staff said the portal will display the charge to the customer when they select a payment method.

During discussion, commissioners asked whether card fees vary by card type; staff said fees depend on card type and provider and that e-check fees are typically lower, sometimes a flat $1–$2. A council motion to transfer user fees associated with credit card, bank card and e-check transactions to customers who use those services passed on a unanimous voice vote.

Staff said the town will continue to offer multiple payment options — cash, check, credit card, debit card and e-check — and will absorb costs only for payment methods the town offered before the upgrade. The Finance/Treasurer’s office and the software vendor will provide final fee schedules to customers once vendor details are confirmed.