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County Administrator's Report 13. 30.

BCC Regular Meeting

Budget & Finance Consent

Meeting Date:	09/24/2015
Issue: Implementing a Minimal 3% Transaction Fee for Acceptance of Credit and/or Debit Card Payments From Animal Services Division Customers
From:	Donald R. Mayo
Department:	Building Services
CAO Approval:

RECOMMENDATION:

Recommendation Concerning Implementing a 3% Transaction Fee for Acceptance of Credit and/or Debit Card Payments From Customers of the Animal Services Division - Donald R. Mayo, Building Services Department Director

That the Board take the following action concerning implementing a minimal 3% transaction fee for all payments accepted at the Animal Services Division from customers using a credit and/or debit card as payment:

A. Authorize implementing a minimal 3% Transaction Fee for acceptance of credit and/or debit card payments from Animal Services Division customers; and

B. Approve the effective date of October 1, 2015, for implementation of the 3% Transaction Fee.

[Funding: There will be no cost to the Animal Services Division to implement this transaction fee. The 3% fee will be charged to the customers, recovering the Animal Services Division's costs associated with using a credit and/or debit card as payment and reducing operational costs]

BACKGROUND:

To keep up with standard business practices, the Animal Services Division offers the convenience of accepting electronic payments from customers for which it incurs a minimum of three percent (3%) with each transaction, depending upon the type of card presented for payment. The Animal Services Division has not implemented a surcharge to recover the costs associated with electronic payments. Animal Services would like to implement a minimal transaction fee of three percent (3%) in order to continue to accept electronic payments from its customers without using Animal Services operation funds. This is an established policy of other County Departments and Elected Officials who accept electronic payments. Board approval is required since Animal Services operates in conformity with a fee schedule adopted by the Board pursuant to Section 828, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 10, Section 10(6), of the Escambia County Code of Ordinances.

BUDGETARY IMPACT:

There will be no cost to the Animal Services Division to implement this transaction fee. The three percent (3%) fee will be charged to the customers, recovering the Animal Services Division's costs associated with using a credit and/or debit card as payment and reducing operational costs.

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF:

This Recommendation was reviewed and approved by Meredith D. Crawford, Assistant County Attorney.

PERSONNEL:

N/A

POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION:

The three percent (3%) transaction fee for the use of credit and/or debit cards must be approved by the Board because the Animal Services Division operates with a fee schedule adopted by the Board pursuant to Section 828, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 10, Section 10(6), of the Escambia County Code of Ordinances.

IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION:

The Animal Services Division will coordinate development of a Fee Code necessary for assessing the fee and providing the required accounting. Notice of the minimal three percent (3%) transaction fee will be provided via the Division webpage, PIO General Alert and other means of distribution.

Attachments
No file(s) attached.