LAKEPORT >> Customers of the Lake County Special Districts will soon be able to pay their bills electronically.
This week the Lake County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a five-year service contract between the district and Paymentus, a company that provides bill payment services.
“Special Districts has been trying to accommodate numerous requests for electronic payments for several years and we believe this can no longer be delayed,” Lake County Special Districts Administrator Mark Dellinger said.
The program is expected to be fully implemented by the beginning of November.
After gathering data and discussing concerns regarding audit trail, Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposits and daily revenue reconciliations, as well as check and balances with the Lake County Auditor-Controller and Treasurer-Tax Collector offices, Dellinger said he thinks the district has completed all required research.
“Overall, the only change in this electronic payment process for the Treasurer and Auditor’s office is the additional deposit along with the electronic payment method,” Dellinger said.
Under the five-year contract, which is estimated to total $235,000 each year, customers will be able to pay their bills with credit/debit or e-check by phone, text, mobile phone application, online or at an iPad payment kiosk at the Lake County Special Districts office.
Paymentus will also provide an online customer portal and 24-hour bilingual customer support through its phone service.
Formerly, customers were only able to pay their bills by mailing a check or paying at the district’s office.
A flat fee of $2.95 per transaction will be charged for all payment types, which will prevent an increase in water and sewer rates.
District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington asks if county will see savings.
“We can potentially see some saving in staff time,” Dellinger answered.
Additionally, printing and postage costs will be reduced from Paymentus providing electronic billing services.
“As this catches on and more join in, we will absorb the cost … we’re not going to see that the first couple of years.” Lake County Special Districts Compliance Coordinator Jan Coppinger said.
“If we absorb the cost now and we had specific areas that used it heavily, we would actually be passing that cost onto other areas,” Coppinger added.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
