Council authorizes new online payment vendor to speed utility collections

The Cortland City Council on April 6 authorized the finance director to enter an agreement with Integrated Payment Solutions (doing business as Payar) to provide online utility payment services, replacing functionality previously supplied through Uni Link.

Finance staff told the council Uni Link’s process was resulting in delayed deposits—sometimes up to two weeks—causing customers to receive late fees despite the city reversing penalties later. The new vendor will accept electronic bank payments, Apple Pay and Google Pay, provide text reminders and an automated phone (IVR) option, and deliver consolidated, near-real-time reports to improve cash flow and reduce manual check handling.

Council also moved and adopted an amendment clarifying the city would not pay a specific vendor implementation fee; after the amendment was approved by roll call the resolution authorizing the agreement passed.

Why it matters: the change aims to shorten payment clearing times, reduce manual processing for finance staff and limit customer late-fee impacts from delayed vendor deposits. Staff said transaction fees charged to customers would be passed through and the city would absorb a small per-transaction administrative amount as described at the meeting.

The resolution passed by roll call with council members recorded as voting in favor.