Treasure Coast Sun

Starting in 2024, the City of Port St. Lucie will be implementing service fees for various city services. The fees will be applied to all electronic transactions made in person, online, or through the City's automated phone service. It is important to note that the City of Port St. Lucie will not receive any portion of the service fee.

The service fees will be introduced in a phased manner, with different services being affected on different dates. According to the city's announcement, the following services will have service fees starting from the specified dates:

- February 12: Lien Services

- February 19: Business Tax, Animal Control

- February 26: Neighborhood Services Department, Office of Solid Waste, Division of Emergency Management

To provide clarity on the new service fees, the City of Port St. Lucie has also provided answers to some frequently asked questions. One of the questions addresses how individuals can avoid paying the service fee. The city advises that individuals can opt to pay by personal check or money order to avoid the fee. Alternatively, they can use E-Checks, which have a flat fee of 40 cents per transaction, regardless of the payment amount.

The reason for the implementation of these service fees is explained in another frequently asked question. The city clarifies that the fees are being assessed by the payment processor and not the City of Port St. Lucie. The aim is to provide the convenience of electronic payment options such as credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets, Venmo, PayPal, and bank and checking accounts, but with the understanding that a separate service fee will be applied.

It is important to note that the City of Port St. Lucie accepts various forms of payment, including VISA, MasterCard, AMEX, Discover, Google Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal, PayPal Credit, Venmo, E-Check, and cash.

For individuals seeking more information or clarification regarding the service fees, they can contact the City of Port St. Lucie at 772-871-1775.

In summary, the City of Port St. Lucie has announced the implementation of service fees for various city services. These fees will be applied to electronic transactions and will not be received by the city itself. The fees will be introduced in phases for different services, starting from February 2024. Individuals have the option to avoid the service fees by paying with personal checks, money orders, or utilizing E-Checks. The service fees are being assessed by the payment processor for the convenience of electronic payments. The city accepts various forms of payment, including credit cards, digital wallets, and cash. For further information or clarification, individuals can contact the City of Port St. Lucie directly.