Council hears concerns over water‑bill credit‑card fees after $100,000 cost increase

Councilors and members of the public pressed finance staff about a notable increase in transaction fees in the water/wastewater fund.

A councilor asked which line item showed the largest overage; Louis, finance staff, said the water/wastewater fund and pointed to Exhibit A for details. He said the city had budgeted $280,000 for transaction fees and was increasing that line by about $100,000. "If you're looking from left to right is the department, the GL account number, the description, and then there's a dollar amount," Louis said when explaining the exhibit.

Questions from council and attendees focused on who bears credit‑card fees and why the city was absorbing some costs. Louis said the city only charges fees when customers pay in person; online payments incur no fee. He added the local‑government code allows cities to pass fees to customers in some cases, and that the city's practice of not charging online payments began during COVID to reduce in‑person traffic. "The only fees that we charge are when you come and pay in person but everything else the city absorbs," Louis said.

Residents and business owners in the room noted that many customers prefer online or card payments; councilors discussed the fairness of fee practices and asked staff to monitor the line. The council also noted increased water sales offset the fee overages. Staff did not propose an immediate change in policy at the meeting, but the discussion signaled council interest in tracking and clarifying customer charges.