Why Mannford is adding a 5.15% convenience fee to your utility bills

Starting July 1, residents in Mannford will see a noticeable change in their city service and utility bills: the addition of a 5.15% convenience fee for payments made by credit or debit card. For every $100 billed, that translates to nearly $20 in added costs.

Why the Fee?

According to city officials, Mannford has been absorbing increasingly steep bank processing fees—more than $130,000 from 2020 to now—which has become financially untenable. The newly implemented convenience fee aims to shift that burden away from taxpayers.

How to Avoid the Fee

Good news for those looking to dodge the extra charge: the 5.15% fee does not apply to payments made via:

1. Cash
2. Check
3. Automatic Bank Draft
4. Bank BillPay (through your financial institution)

Residents React

Mannford taxpayer Jared Sevendgard says unpredictable billing has already been a challenge:

“They say they come out and check it every month, but I’ll get, you know, a $300 bill one month and then $480 and then $150. You can never say, 'Oh my bill’s gotta be around this,’ because it’s never the same.”

For consumers already coping with fluctuating utility costs, the added fee presents yet another concern.

What the City Plans Next

City Manager –Gerald Haury– says the convenience fee is a temporary measure while they search for a more affordable card-processing vendor once the current contract ends. If they are unable to find a less expensive processor, Haury says that rate will be adjusted to match.

Added on Top of Existing Fees

It’s important to note this 5.15% charge is in addition to a $2 flat convenience fee that Mannford has already been tacking on for card transactions made through their website. Residents paying by card will soon see their bill rise by roughly 5.15% plus $2 for each online transaction.

What You Should Do

1. Switch payment methods to avoid the fee—opt for cash, check, or BillPay if possible.
2. Monitor your bill amounts each month to budget around potential fee changes.
3. Stay tuned for updates on Mannford’s efforts to secure a lower-cost processing partner.