VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Valley City Public Works accountant Gary Jacobson proposed to have the city implement a 2.19 percent surcharge on credit cards used by residents to pay for utility bills.

He said more customers are using credit cards and the cost the bank charges the city to process the cards has grown to $12,000 over the last fiscal year. He said that number will grow this year and beyond.

City commissioners Mike Bishop and Jeff Erickson were opposed to the surcharge proposal. They thought the fee was too high.

Mayor Dave Carlsrud said one solution maybe for city utility customers to pay using Auto Pay.

At the August 21st regular board meeting the motion failed on a 3 to one vote. Mayor Dave Carlsrud voted to support the proposal. Commissioner Ross Powell was not present at the meeting.