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Council approves steep cut to customer credit-card fee after staff negotiation
Summary
The council approved a measure to allow the city to pass through credit-card fees to customers at a much lower rate after negotiation reduced the per-transaction and percentage charges from roughly $6.50 and 5.74% to $1.25 and 0.98%.
Manville council voted to permit the city to pass through credit-card processing costs to customers at a reduced fee, following staff negotiations with payment processors.
Why it matters: The change reduces the cost burden for customers who choose to pay by credit card and lowers the city's previous processing expense. Staff said the new arrangement cuts the existing per-transaction service charge and percentage fee substantially.
Finance Director Rosie told council the previous effective charge was roughly $6.52 per transaction and 5.743% on transactions; negotiations produced a new structure with a $1.25 per-transaction service fee and a 0.98% processing fee. Staff said customers who use ACH or pay by cash, check or money order would continue to avoid any fee.
Council members lauded the staff negotiation and encouraged customers to sign up for ACH where appropriate to avoid fees; staff said the change will be implemented after the resolution is adopted.
Ending: Council approved the resolution unanimously and asked staff to publicize the lower fee and the no-cost ACH option for ratepayers.
