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Lawrence County treasurer to sign contract with Catalyst to accept credit-card tax payments
Summary
Treasurer Rich Rapone told commissioners that a negotiated agreement with Catalyst will lower convenience fees for taxpayers (from 2.45% to 2.25%), add an IVR phone option for seniors and begin with a June 1 implementation; the board authorized the contract by unanimous roll call.
The Lawrence County Board of Commissioners on May 12 authorized the county treasurer to enter into a contract with Catalyst to provide third-party credit-card processing for tax payments.
County Treasurer Rich Rapone presented the proposal and said the county has been moving to a new tax-software platform. Rapone told the board he researched multiple providers and negotiated a convenience fee reduction for card users. "Currently, they would be paying 2.45%. But once you go into using Catalyst, it would now be 2.25%," Rapone said.
Rapone said Catalyst's service supports a wide range of digital payment methods (including Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay) and includes an interactive-voice-response phone line to assist residents who are not computer-savvy. He recommended a targeted implementation and intensive staff training, and said the contract is scheduled to take effect June 1. The treasurer's office will schedule an all-day training session (the office will close one day for cutover and training).
Commissioners asked operational questions about outreach and whether the new service could be used at off-site collections; Rapone said outreach events will continue to accept cash and checks because of connectivity concerns, but that Catalyst will expand card-based options for taxpayers who prefer them.
The commission approved the resolution authorizing the treasurer's office to sign the Catalyst agreement by roll call.
Next steps: the treasurer's office will coordinate software cutover and public information about the new payment options.
