Mokena Board Shifts Credit Card Fees to Users to Protect General Fund

Mokena Village Board Meeting | November 10, 2025

Article Summary: The Mokena Village Board approved a new consumer pass-through model for credit card payments during its meeting on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, shifting the burden of processing fees away from the Village’s General Fund. Residents using credit cards will be charged a 3% convenience fee starting March 1, 2026, while cash, check, and ACH payments will remain free of charge.

Credit Card Fee Policy Key Points:

• Rising Costs: Credit card processing fees paid by the Village rose from $109,553 in fiscal year 2023 to $132,194 in 2025.

• Pass-Through Model: The new 3% fee applies only to those choosing to pay by credit card to ensure those using other methods are not subsidizing credit card users.

• Exemptions: Payments made via ACH (automatic withdrawal), debit cards, and cash will continue to be processed without additional fees.

• Regional Alignment: Mokena joins neighboring municipalities like Frankfort, New Lenox, and Lockport, which have already implemented similar pass-through models.

The Mokena Village Board on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution No. 2025-R-007, authorizing a 3% convenience fee for all credit card transactions processed by the Village. The move is intended to protect the long-term sustainability of the Village’s General Fund by eliminating the high cost of processing fees currently covered by taxpayers.

Management Analyst Ashley Pala presented a history of the program, noting the Village began accepting credit cards at the counter in 2000 and launched its first online billing portal in 2008. While intended as a convenience for residents, the popularity of credit card payments has led to ballooning costs. Between fiscal years 2023 and 2025, the total amount of processed payments rose by nearly $789,000, resulting in a corresponding spike in the fees the Village must pay to processors.

“This change ensures all residents pay their fair share, keeping Village finances strong without increasing taxes,” Pala stated during the presentation. She emphasized that three of the Village’s four available payment options—ACH, debit card, and cash—will remain free.

Under the implementation timeline, the Village will spend December 2025 through February 2026 informing the public of the change via social media and the monthly newsletter. The convenience fee will officially go into effect on March 1, 2026. Trustee Melissa Fedora asked if residents would need to take any action regarding their online utility billing accounts; Pala responded that residents will be informed on how to update their accounts through various Village media outlets.

The board noted that Mokena was one of the few remaining municipalities in the area still absorbing these costs. Data presented showed that Crest Hill, Frankfort, New Lenox, Lockport, and Orland Park had already transitioned to a pass-through model for credit card fees.