Photo by Seth Johnson
The city of Gainesville will start passing along transaction fees of 2.45%, with a minimum of $1, to customers who pay online by debit or credit card when making certain payments, beginning on Aug. 1.
According to a press release, the city will start assessing the online transaction fees when payments are made on the following items:
- Building and planning permits
- Business taxes
- Domestic partnership registrations
- Gainesville Police Department background checks
- Parking tickets
- Public records charges
- Regional Transit System (RTS) mobile bus passes, including Gator Aider
- Special event permits
- Towing company and vehicle-for-hire franchise fees
- Trespass towing contract fees
Starting on Oct. 1, the credit and debit card transaction fee will also apply on payments made in person at city government offices.
Payments that are exempt from processing fees include:
- Online payments by electronic check (using bank routing and account numbers)
- Payments by physical check
- Cash payments where accepted
- Ironwood Golf Course charges and fees
- Parking fees via the PassportParking® app, the Passport website or any downtown pay station
- Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs Department charges
They don’t call them “convenience” fees for nothing. Convenient for you, but also convenient for GRU or anybody who wants to charge you a few extra dolla dolla bills to pay online instead of via cash or check.