(a) Definitions for this article.
(1) Charge: a fee, fine, court cost, or other charge owed by a person to the City of Big Spring.
(2) Payment card: a method of payment including debit cards, charge cards and "credit cards" under Texas Local Government Code Section 132.001(1).
(3) Card reimbursement fee: an additional charge assessed by the City of Big Spring to a person paying a charge with a payment card for the purpose of recovering the transaction cost assessed by the city's payment card processor.
(4) Service charge: an additional charge assessed by the City of Big Spring to a person paying a charge with a payment card for the purpose of recovering the cost of a dishonored payment.
(b) Payment card acceptance authorized. Each official employed by the City of Big Spring who, as part of that employment, collects payments for charges from members of the public that are due to the city is authorized to accept for payment those payment card types approved by the finance director. The city manager shall have the power to modify what payment card types are approved at any time.
(c) Amount of card reimbursement fee. Officials collecting payments for charges from members of the public shall charge a card reimbursement fee if authorized by official action of city council.
(1) Subsection (c) shall not apply to fines, fees, and charges assessed by the municipal court. Officials of the municipal court shall charge a card reimbursement fee in an amount and under conditions as specified by the city manager or by official action of city council. This subsection will expire January 31, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
(d) Service charge. If for any reason a payment by payment card is not honored by the company on which the funds are drawn, the officer shall collect from the person who attempted to pay by payment card an additional service charge in an amount equal to the fee then being charged for the collection of a check drawn on an account with not sufficient funds.
(e) The municipal official collecting a fee or charge under this chapter shall deposit the fee or charge in the general fund of the municipality.
(Ord. No. 013-2020, § 3, 5-12-2020; Ord. No. 001-2022, § 1, 1-11-2022; Ord. No. 005-2022, § 1, 2-8-2022)