The New Price of Convenience? $3.25

The cost of convenience has increased. Township residents choosing to pay their water and sewer bill by credit or debit card will now have to pay a $3.25 convenience fee.

When the option to pay water and sewer bills online was piloted some six months ago, Treasurer Karen Goodhue said the township underestimated the convenience fee charged for credit or debit card use.

Just as customers are charged to use an ATM or pay for groceries at the supermarket, bill pay also has an associated charge when using a credit or debit card.

“We cannot make money on this, but we also cannot subsidize the payment,” Goodhue said, meaning the township cannot profit from residents paying with a credit card, but it can also not absorb the cost and save residents’ money.

However, Goodhue reminds residents that other free bill pay options are still available. It is the resident’s choice to use a credit or debit card to pay a water and sewer bill.

Fund transfers from a bank account are available with no convenience fees.

The convenience fee for paying summer and winter taxes with a credit or debit card has not changed.