VACAVILLE, Calif. – The Vacaville City Council has approved a policy to implement a credit card convenience fee for certain City services, shifting credit card processing costs from the City to customers who choose to pay by credit card. The fee is charged by the City’s payment processing vendor, not the City, and applies only when customers choose to pay by credit card.

In accordance with the effective dates, customers who choose to pay by credit card will see a non-refundable processing fee of up to 3%, charged by the City’s third-party payment provider. The City does not receive any portion of this fee. No-fee options, including cash, check, and ACH/e-check, remain available.

Effective Implementation Timeline

May 1, 2026: Business Services

• Business License
• Transient Occupancy Tax

July 1, 2026: Community Services

• Utility Billing (water and sewer)
• Excise Billing
• Parks and Recreation

Currently, the City absorbs approximately $400,000 annually in credit card processing fees across all departments. The new policy aligns Vacaville with common practices among public agencies and ensures that only users of credit card services incur these costs.

“This change allows the City to maintain high-quality services while ensuring fairness for all residents,” said Assistant City Manager GeorgeAnne Meggers-Smith. “Residents who prefer to avoid fees can continue to use no-cost payment options.”

The fee is authorized under the California Government Code and is structured to ensure charges do not exceed the actual cost of processing credit card payments. The City will continue to provide multiple convenient payment options while maintaining efficient and cost-effective service delivery. For more information, visit CityofVacaville.gov/CreditCardFee.

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Contact:
Ken Matsumiya
Finance Director
707.449.5450
Ken.Matsumiya@CityofVacaville.gov

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