The Cookeville City Council considering amending the municipal code regarding taxpayer and consumer payments.
Cookeville City Clerk Darian Coons said the amended code will state that the city may accept payment options of cash, checks, money orders, e-checks, and card payments from taxpayers and consumers for the payment of taxes, goods, or services provided by the city of Cookeville. Coons said the amended code would cover all goods and services that the city provides.
“It will pick up property taxes, trash cards, folks doing adoptions at the animal shelter, camp fees,” Coons said. “It picks up a lot of things that haven’t been formalized so far.”
The amended code also states that a $20 fee and payment by cash, money order, or certified funds would be required should a payment be returned by the bank. It also states that multiple returned payment items within a 12-month period will additionally require future payment by cash, money order, or certified funds for a 12-month period.
“We’ve actually had quite a few in the last year where some businesses had passed us some checks repeatedly that have bounced,” Coons said.
Coons said utilities have a separate policy covering multiple returned payments during a 12-month period.
“Fee is the same, but for the utilities, they will not force somebody to go to cash, money order, or certified funds until three bad payments,” Coons said.
The amended code will remove the portion of 5-601 that states a convenience fee of 2.5 percent of the entire amount paid by credit card will be assessed to the consumer. 5-602 Convenience fee waived section will be entirely removed. 5-602 states the city manager may establish a convenience fee exempt maximum charge limit. The convenience fee will be waived for the entire amount paid by credit card that does not exceed the maximum charge limit as established by the city manager.
The city council will vote to amend the code this Thursday.
