News Summary
Bossier City has enacted Ordinance 159, introducing credit card processing fees for residents paying property taxes, fines, and utility bills. This change is a response to increasing processing costs, projected to reach $250,000 in 2020. The city council unanimously approved the measure, allowing costs to be passed on to customers. In-person transactions will also incur fees, and while some local restaurants have begun imposing surcharges to cope with rising costs, residents are encouraged to consider alternative payment methods to avoid these fees. Community reactions are mixed as the city adjusts to economic pressures.
Bossier City Takes Action with New Credit Card Payment Fees
Big news for residents of Bossier City! The city has officially adopted Ordinance 159, which brings some changes to the way residents will handle credit card payments for various services. This decision was made largely in response to the rising processing costs that have been stacking up over the past few years.
What Does Ordinance 159 Mean for You?
Starting now, if you’re planning to pay your property taxes, fines from tickets, water bills, or even register for parks and recreation online, brace yourself for some added costs! When you choose to pay using a credit card, you’ll face processing fees. This move is all about addressing the financial strain the city is experiencing due to skyrocketing credit card surcharges.
The Mayor’s office has revealed a staggering statistic: in 2020 alone, the city’s credit card processing fees totaled nearly $250,000. That’s a hefty amount that undoubtedly caught their attention! With the newly approved ordinance on November 16, the Bossier City Council unanimously agreed to take action—allowing these processing fees to be passed along to customers who opt for electronic payments.
How Will This Work?
The fees aren’t just applicable to online payments; they will also apply to in-person transactions made using debit or credit cards, as well as ACH (that’s fancy talk for electronic account withdrawals). However, there’s some good news: the city has promised not to profit from these fees. Instead, they’re purely a means of passing the burden off to those who choose to pay electronically.
If you’d like to steer clear of these new fees, the city provides a simple solution: pay your bills using checks or money orders, either by mail or in person. It might be a bit old-school, but it could save you some cash!
The Ripple Effect: Local Businesses Also Feeling the Heat
Similarly, Dawg House Sports Grill is now implementing the same 4% surcharge for all card payments. Restaurant management is on high alert as they face increased expenses that are not showing any signs of letting up.
On the other hand, while Burger Grind hasn’t yet started charging extra for card payments, they’re strongly encouraging customers to use cash. The restaurant management believes it could save both them and the customers money as they look down the road at more credit card fee increases.
Community Response
Bossier City is making its moves with the aim to alleviate financial pressure while ensuring that services continue to be offered without major disruptions. The shift to credit card payment fees might be a tough pill to swallow for some, but it is also a realistic approach considering the current economic climate.
As Bossier City residents adapt to these new fees, it’s clear that everyone from the city council to local businesses is feeling the financial pinch, reminding us all of the importance of being financial savvy in our daily lives.
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Additional Resources
- Shreveport Times: Bossier City Adopts Credit Card Processing Fees
- The News Star: Local Restaurants Add Charge for Card Payments
- KTBS: Doing Better Business – Credit and Debit Card Surcharges
- Wikipedia: Credit Card
- Google Search: Credit Card Processing Fees
Author: STAFF HERE SHREVEPORT WRITER
The SHREVEPORT STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREShreveport.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Mudbug Madness Festival, Red River Revel Arts Festival, and Independence Bowl. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Shreveport-Bossier Chamber of Commerce and Shreveport Regional Arts Council, plus leading businesses in gaming, healthcare, and energy that power the local economy such as Horseshoe Casino, Ochsner LSU Health, and Atmos Energy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBatonRouge.com and HERENewOrleans.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Louisiana's dynamic landscape.
