Clerk urges printing monthly statements after small finance charges from mailed billing

Henry County officials discussed small but recurring finance charges the county has paid when mailed credit-card statements arrive late, and the clerk proposed an administrative change to avoid future charges.

County Clerk Kelly Merrick told commissioners she had traced the finance fees and found a routine: the credit-card company posts statements on the first of the month, then mails them; the county sometimes receives the mailed statement around the 16th and pays from the office after receipt, which creates occasional finance charges when posting and receipt dates are close to the due date. Merrick said finance charges included small amounts such as $2.40 for emergency management and $10.66 for the prosecuting attorney's office.

To reduce those charges, Merrick and staff proposed logging into the card provider’s online system on the first of each month, printing the posted statement immediately, and distributing it internally for payment before the mailed copy arrives. "I'm tired of paying finance charges," the clerk said, explaining the change is intended to cut the 10-day mail delay and associated costs.

Commissioners discussed other options (electronic funds transfer and direct-debit arrangements), and staff noted limits exist for some county payment processes. One staff member offered to accept certain equity payments via daily deposit to local banks as an interim solution. The commission supported trying the first-of-month printing routine and agreed staff should return if further changes are needed.

No formal ordinance or new contract was authorized at the meeting; this was an administrative process change intended to reduce small recurring costs.