Town of Zionsville discusses accepting credit cards for municipal payments
By Sophie Pappas
Cash or credit? It’s one question you may be asked the next time you visit Zionsville Town Hall to pay a utility bill or purchase building permit for your property.
“It’s a huge change,” said Zionsville Town Councilwoman Susana Suarez. “It’s exciting.”
At the March 31 agenda-setting meeting for the town council, council members discussed moving into what Suarez calls the “20th century.”
“Not quite the 21st century,” she said. “But we are moving forward.”
The town is in talks with two local banks about how to responsibly accept credit card payments for services and items purchased from the town.
Councilman Steve Mundy and Town Manager Ed Mitro are at the helm of directing this new transaction for the town.
Mundy said that the banks he has spoken with recommend the town add a percentage charge to all credit card transactions, in order for the town to pay for the credit card fees. One bank suggested an additional $3 convenience fee.
“The law allows us to do that to cover our fees,” Mundy said.
According to Mundy, more than 25 percent of people who use town services pay with automatic bank withdrawal, a convenient way of paying for a utility bill, for example.
“It does not sound like it will take long for the banks to submit proposals for how we should do this,” Mundy said.
The council is expected to discuss this issue at a future council meeting, following meetings with the banks.
