County Executive Russell M. Pry Modernizes Governmental Business Practices, Accepting Credit Cards

County Executive Russell M. Pry recently modernized the business practices within the Division of Animal Control and the Division of Building Standards by accepting credit card payments: American Express, Discover and MasterCard.

Advancing the business practices throughout the Executive's Office came about in March 2009 when Summit County Council approved legislation, submitted by Russell M. Pry, which urged for the implementation of financial transaction devices at all county government offices requesting payment for services.

According to studies conducted by the U.S. Federal Reserve, more than half of the non-cash payments made in the United States are initiated electronically by using debit cards, credit cards and online bill payment options.

“Modernizing our business practices to match the financial technologies being used by citizens is just smart business,” stated Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry. “In today's world, citizens expect the convenience of being offered fast, easy and secure payment options."

Official Payments, Inc., a leading provider of electronic payment solutions for federal, state and local government municipalities and agencies, is facilitating this new service. The County of Summit successfully negotiated a 2.5% processing fee for every transaction.

"The County of Summit does not receive any of the processing fee revenue," added Pry. "Official Payments, Inc. earns their money strictly from the fee they charge."

All county government offices accepting credit card payments into their business practices have agreed to post notices indicating the following: the total amount of the convenience fee for using a financial transaction device, the total amount of the convenience fee in dollars and cents for each transaction and a clear statement that the convenience fee is non-refundable.