Credit cards to be accepted as payment

Paying taxes and license fees are not a pleasurable experience for anyone, but just in time for real estate and property tax season there will be a little perk that makes it a little less painful.

By May 31, paying those taxes will become a little easier at the Lincoln County Courthouse when Treasurer Nancy Trotter Higgins hopes to have a credit- and debit-card payment system in place.

Higgins on Wednesday made her pitch to Lincoln County Commissioners, and they unanimously obliged.

“We’ve had several requests for this,” Higgins told Commissioners.

Higgins had researched several companies that work with counties with credit and debit transactions, and found Montana Interactive as the one she favors.

“I called around, and I believe this one will work best for us,” Higgins said of Montana Interactive. “Missoula just signed a contract with them, and I agree. I think it’s best for us.”

With Higgins’ endorsement, Commissioners Marianne Roose and Ron Downey voted to accept Montana Interactive as the provider. Commissioner Tony Berget on Wednesday was in Polson at a water rights meeting.

When the system is fully operational, there will be eight credit-card sliding machines installed at the Treasurers, Clerk’s, License and other offices in the Courthouse at a cost of $85 each.

Persons who use the system will be charged 1.995 percent of the transaction, plus a merchant fee of 25 cents and $1 transaction fee. So, ideally, someone who charges $10 will be charged about $11.45. Similarly, a $100 payment would cost $103.24 with the fees.

Higgins said all credit cards will be accepted, but debit cards will run as credit, making it unnecessary to use pin numbers. The machines will not be equipped to accept pin numbers.

“We’re real hopeful the system will be in place by May 31,” Higgins said. “That would be so helpful.”