On the heels of a rate hike, Augusta Utilities is imposing a new 2.5% fee to pay water, sewer and stormwater fee bills with a credit or debit card.
Starting Jan. 1, customers making payments using a credit or debit card will be charged an additional 2.5% of the bill amount, according to Utilities’ customer service line.
The fee also will apply to customers who use a credit or debit card for automatic payments, a customer service representative said.
According to Utilities, to “ensure full transparency,” the credit card processing fee will be listed as a separate line item at the point of checkout.
To avoid the fees, customers can write and mail a check or money order or set up an automatic draft from their bank account. Or, they may pay in person using cash, check or money order at the Utilities walk-up kiosk on Walker Street or at 3463 Peach Orchard Road Suite B.
Utilities joins another city department, the Tax Commissioner’s Office, in charging credit card processing fees.
Utilities’ processing fee comes in addition to the department’s announced 4.5% rate hike for water and sewer service in the new year. For the average residential customer, the increase will amount to $2.23 per month.
In addition, while the fee structure has not been finalized, city officials are proposing an increase in the garbage fee included on annual property tax bills.
The increase was initially proposed as $119.50 per year and expected to generate $9.7 million in new revenue for services such as demolishing blight. Later, commissioners considered a $3 monthly increase.
Commissioners are also looking at ways to avoid a property tax freeze approved by voters last month. The freeze would exempt assessed increases in a home’s value from additional taxes, but cities, counties and school boards are permitted to opt out of the program.
