The City of Rochester has been informed by Interware, the provider of our citizen payment services, that they will be implementing their first price increase since 2004 for their online and over-the-counter payment services. We understand that any price increase can be difficult for our citizens, and we would like to take a moment to explain the reasons provided to us by Interware.

According to a letter received in March 2023, inflation continues to be the primary driver of this increase, and Interware’s costs related to technology services, hardware, and data security advancements have significantly increased, especially over the last few years.

Starting on April 1st, 2023, the citizen-sponsored fees for Interware’s services will be adjusted as follows: Online transaction fees will be $1.75 per item, credit card processing fees will be 2.99%, minimum credit card fee & flat ACH fees will be $2.50, and e-Check payments will be $1.50 per payment.

While we understand that this increase may present challenges for some of our citizens, Interware says the change is essential in order to maintain the high level of service that we all rely on. Interware says they’ll continue to deliver best-in-class services, innovative technology, and industry-leading security to us and our citizens, and we are confident that they will continue to provide the high-quality services we have come to expect.

We appreciate your understanding and continued patronage of our citizen payment services, and we remain committed to providing the best possible services to our community.