DULUTH — Beginning Jan. 5, people who use credit cards to pay for city licenses, permits, code violations or enterprise transactions can expect to spend a little extra.
As Duluth flips the calendar on 2025, city officials plan to pass along anticipated credit card fees to residents by adopting a new policy expected to yield about $80,000 in savings next year.
People who pull out their plastic to settle bills with the city will encounter a 3.5% surcharge or a $2.50 fee — whichever is greater.
Alternatively, folks who opt to pay with an e-check will be charged a flat fee of $1.95 per transaction.
For the particularly cost-averse, there still will be a workaround. To avoid all charges, people can choose to go old-school, using cash or personal checks to make good on their bills.
A city news release said the new surcharges will not apply to utility bills or parking ticket fines “at this time,” hinting that the exemption may be temporary and more fees could be in store for the future.
The new policy will not be used as a means to generate new revenues but instead is intended simply to cover rising credit card-processing fees, according to Public Information Officer Kelli Latuska.
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