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Rehoboth Beach officials are putting the pieces in place to ask city residents “paper or plastic?” when it comes to utilities bills.
Dave Henderson, the city’s information technology director, said his department has already come up with a computer system to allow citizens to pay their utility bills online.
The system, which is awaiting approval from the commissioners, allows citizens to sign on to the city’s website through a link to a secure server in Salisbury. The payment is then sent through to the credit card system in Rehoboth, where it is collected. The city is charged 23 cents for every transaction. Citizens will still be mailed a paper bill.
The situation hasn’t been so rosy when it comes to the plan to implement 51 parking meters to accept credit cards. Henderson said the problem is the city of Los Angeles is also upgrading its system to take credit cards, reducing the number of meters that could be shipped to Rehoboth.
The city has also had problems with modems on the meters it did get, Henderson said. A test meter has been set up and since May 22, the meter has had 34 Visa transactions netting $89 in revenue and 12 MasterCard transactions worth $33.50. Henderson said he hopes the new meters will be implemented by July 15.
Parking meters and utility bills aren’t the only payments citizens can make by credit card. Henderson said systems are also being put in place for citizens to pay for fines at Alderman’s Court and parking permit fines.
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