Hellertown Residents Will Soon Be Able to Pay Borough Bills Online

A new service will soon allow Hellertown residents to pay their borough garbage, recycling and property tax bills online.

The MuniciPAY service will enable users to pay their bills with a credit card or by debit via an e-Check.

Payees who use a credit card to pay their bill will be assessed a 2.5 percent service fee, while e-Check users will pay a $1.50 flat fee.

Borough manager Cathy Hartranft told council members Monday that the Hellertown Borough Authority began using MuniciPAY to allow customers to pay water and sewer bills a couple of months ago.

So far, the service has been a success, she said.

An added bonus to municipalities that use MuniciPAY and similar companies to process online payments is improved cash flow, Hartranft said.

"More people are using it because it's a matter of convenience," councilman Mike McKenna stated.

Hartranft said the online payment option will be made available to residents as soon as possible.

The borough will publicize the new payment option when it becomes available, she added.

At Monday's meeting, borough council also unanimously approved a motion to allow property owners to pay their annual real estate tax bills via several installment payments, as the Saucon Valley School District currently does.

Currently, borough residents can pay their tax bill in two installments.

That new installment option will likely take effect in 2015.

Photo: A screenshot of the MuniciPAY website