Council authorizes increase to electronic payment contract cap amid rising card use

The City Council approved a resolution to increase the annual expenditure limit for the city's electronic payment services contract with Paymentus Corporation from $600,000 to $1,000,000, citing a sustained increase in debit and credit card transactions. Donnie Prosise, purchasing supervisor, said utilities anticipated continued increases in electronic payments and requested authorization to raise contract number 23-24-003 to "an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 subject to approved budget appropriations."

A utilities representative explained transaction volumes rose roughly 64% from FY21 to FY23 and another 48% from FY23 to FY25, and described a flat $2.15 per-transaction fee that contributes to monthly invoices averaging about $52,000. Council voted in favor; one council member was recorded absent during the roll call. City staff and the city manager later explained the city had historically chosen not to pass credit-card convenience fees on to residents, which increases budgetary exposure for electronic processing costs.