ITEM TITLE:
Implementation of Online Billing/Payments Platform: Xpress Bill Pay
SUBMITTED BY: Brian Carlson, Finance Director
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: n/a
Unencumbered Balance: n/a
Funding Source: n/a
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and file
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
In March, following an RFP, Finance staff implemented Xpress Bill Pay for web-based billing and payments. This service applies to all operations except for Ports/Harbor and Civic Center movies.
Below are points of interest since implementation:
• Utilization among utility and AR customers is 15%
• 156 customers have established online accounts
• 67 have requested paperless billing
• 81 have established auto-pay features
• 377 transactions totaling $37K have been processed online without direct involvement from COV staff
• Total merchant fees rates have been reduced by approximately 46%
There remain some shortcomings which staff is working to rectify. They are:
• Lack of efficient point-of-sale accessories to enable Civic Center movies to use the system (too slow for movie lines). Finance and Civic Center staff have a temporary solution in place while we work toward a long-term solution.
• Property tax bills are not yet viewable, though property tax payments can be made. Staff is working with XBP technicians, and anticipates this being solved prior to mailing 2019 bills.
• AR customers can view/pay statements, but cannot view individual invoices through the billing platform.