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Treasurer proposes Catalyst online payments platform; audit finds county accounts and a holdout bank
Summary
Treasurer Mary proposed using Catalyst to let taxpayers pay taxes online 24/7 (CIC quoted a $1,800.60 interface fee); she also presented a county‑wide bank‑account audit and reported Sunflower Bank acknowledged accounts but declined to give full details, asking commissioners whether to pursue the matter further.
County Treasurer Mary presented two related administrative proposals: implementing an online tax‑payment portal (Catalyst) and publishing results of a county bank‑account audit. On Catalyst, she said the county could give taxpayers a 24/7 web portal supporting cash (via partner locations), Venmo, PayPal, debit/credit and eCheck, and that the county would not absorb the convenience fee (customers would pay it). She cited a CIC quote of $1,800.60 for the interface integration and said initial use would be limited to taxes while staff evaluates how it performs.
"The quote was for $1,800.60 and that would be for the interface..." the treasurer said. She told commissioners Catalyst charges a convenience fee (about 2.5% was discussed in the meeting) and that the county could pilot online tax payments before expanding other services. The treasurer said she has $27,000 in a technology fund and could cover the interface cost and suggested bringing the contract to administration and county counsel for review prior to placing it on the agenda for approval.
On the audit, the treasurer said she sent a 150‑mile radius request to banks to enumerate county accounts opened under the county EIN. She reported finding accounts at Equity Bank, Bank of Beaver and Community Bank and said Sunflower Bank confirmed a checking account exists but has so far refused to provide full account data; she asked commissioners whether she should continue pursuing documentation. Commissioners asked for the Catalyst contract and requested legal review before any binding commitment; they asked the treasurer to provide the bank‑account listing to auditors as part of the regular audit process.
