Newton plans to shift credit-card processing fees to customers
City estimated about $260,000 in savings, but its billing page still lists the existing transaction fees
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Sign up freeNewton city commissioners decided during an Aug. 11 budget discussion to pass credit-card processing costs to customers who pay city charges by card, rather than continuing to absorb most of those costs.
As of Oct. 1, the city’s utility billing page still said online card transactions carry a $1 fee and phone transactions carry a $1.25 fee, while the city absorbs the remaining processing costs charged by credit-card companies.
In its Aug. 11 meeting summary, the city estimated that passing processing fees to card users would save about $260,000 across the city budget.
The August summary did not specify how much customers would pay, whether the charge would be a flat fee or a percentage, or when the change would take effect. Those details were not listed on the city’s billing page as of Oct. 1.
According to the city, customers can avoid transaction fees by paying with cash or check or enrolling in automatic bank draft. Bank-draft payments are withdrawn on the monthly due date.
Residents with questions may contact Newton Utility Billing at 316-284-6007. Customer service hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon Friday.
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