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Charlotte County explains new Paymentus convenience fee, proposes multiple updates to miscellaneous fees
Summary
County staff defended moving to Paymentus as a more secure vendor but acknowledged a new $1 convenience fee for some third‑party autopay transactions; staff will get contract details. Commissioners also reviewed proposed fee changes — FOG program fees, meter testing, septage, availability reports — and asked staff to return with cost‑recovery comparisons.
Charlotte County utilities staff told commissioners on July 15 they had switched to Paymentus for customer payments and that some convenience fees charged through third‑party autopay vendors would now appear on customer transactions.
Sandy Weaver, business services supervisor, explained payment methods and why the dollar convenience fee created confusion among customers. "There's auto pay, there's auto draft, and there's bank bill pay," Weaver said, describing differences and noting that third‑party autopay vendors may charge a convenience fee of about $1 per transaction while the county itself does not take that fee.
Claire Jupp, assistant county administrator, told commissioners to let purchasing staff review the contract and return with specifics such as contract length and any transaction‑volume thresholds that could change the fee structure. "Let us get with purchasing and have a look at what we contract say and update you," she said.
Separately, staff presented proposed miscellaneous fee changes bundled in the 2016 resolution that also contains connection fees. Key proposals included raising the account startup fee from $45 to $50, restructuring fire‑protection charges from an annual to a monthly schedule, introducing a fats‑oil‑grease (FOG) administrative fee of $10/month plus a $10 inspection fee per grease device, setting septage at a flat 15¢/gallon, raising selected meter field/bench‑test fees and proposing a $35 title payoff/lean search fee (mirroring Community Development practice).
Commissioners asked for peer comparators and cost‑recovery calculations before adopting new charges. Several suggested using existing board‑approved mobilization and site‑visit fees for inspections rather than small recurring charges; staff agreed to bring comparative data and legal/contract answers back at the next relevant meeting.
The board did not adopt fee changes on July 15; staff said they will return with supplementary analysis and contract details for Paymentus.
