Edina implements 3% credit card convenience fee
The City of Edina will begin charging a 3% convenience fee for credit card payments starting in July 2025, with the fire department serving as the first to implement the new policy.
The fire department, which includes the public health division, South Metro Public Safety Training Facility and building inspections division, will launch the fee first while other city departments follow as their payment systems are reconfigured. The department processed nearly 9,000 credit card transactions totaling nearly $5 million in 2023, resulting in more than $125,000 in processing fees.
City officials said the decision stems from the significant financial impact of credit card processing costs, which represented over 2.5% of the fire department's sales volume. According to the city, the increased use of credit and debit cards as primary payment methods prompted an evaluation of fiscal responsibility measures.
The implementation will be rolled out gradually across the organization, which operates five different point-of-sale systems and works with 10 different merchant processors. Each department must work through its own logistics before the fee can be applied citywide.
Customers paying with cash or check will not be charged the convenience fee. The city plans to install signage and update online payment systems to inform customers of the new fee, with staff instructed to mention the charge when assisting customers in person or over the phone.
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Summary
The City of Edina announced it will begin charging a 3% convenience fee for credit card payments starting in July 2025. The fire department will be the first to implement this fee, followed by other departments as their systems are reconfigured. This decision was made due to significant credit card processing costs, with the fire department alone paying over $125,000 in fees in 2023 on nearly $5 million in transactions.
Key Highlights
Action Items
Launch credit card convenience fee for fire department services
Reconfigure systems and processes for remaining departments to implement convenience fees
Install signage and update online payment systems to inform customers of convenience fees
People, Places & Organizations
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