Digitizing the ticketing process
Sea Cliff begins transitioning to digital payments
The Village of Sea Cliff is taking significant strides toward modernizing its administrative processes by transitioning to a digital ticket payment system.
The initiative, discussed during the Aug. 5 village board meeting, aims to make paying fines and taxes more convenient for residents. Village Clerk Sarah Beaudin outlined the details of the transition, highlighting both the immediate and long-term changes that residents can expect.
“We’re trying to come out of the stone ages,” Beaudin said. “This isn’t just for the court; we’re working on bringing electronic payments to the building and tax departments as well.”
Beaudin explained that the digital transition will occur in phases, starting with the village’s court system. Currently, credit card or check payments are accepted only in person, but the village plans to soon allow online payments for parking tickets and other fines. Beaudin emphasized that this change is driven by growing resident demand for more accessible payment options.
“Residents have been asking for this for a long time,” she said. “It’s the way of the world now.”
The new system will enable residents to visit the village’s website, enter their ticket information, and pay online with a few clicks. Beaudin explained that the integration should be seamless, as the company managing the digital payments, FBS Parking Solutions, already works closely with the village’s billing company.
In addition to the court system, the village is also preparing to implement digital payment options for building permits and real estate taxes. Currently, the building department only accepts cash or checks for permit fees.
However, soon applicants will be able to apply for permits and pay their fees electronically through the village website. Similarly, the tax department, which currently only accepts cash or checks, will offer electronic payment options by the time the next tax bill is sent out in May 2024.
“We’re aiming to move to electronic finances across the board,” Beaudin said. “We want to make this process as user-friendly as possible.”
During the board meeting, Beaudin acknowledged that while the digital transition is exciting, there are still some challenges to address before the system goes live. One of the primary concerns is ensuring that the system is accessible to all residents, including the village’s senior citizens, who may be less familiar with digital payment methods.
When asked about plans to educate residents on using the new system, Beaudin expressed confidence that the process would be intuitive.
“I don’t anticipate a big learning curve,” Beaudin said. “It’ll be simple—just click ‘pay my parking ticket,’ enter your ticket number, and you’re done.”
She also emphasized that residents will still be able to pay through traditional payment methods, such as by check or cash in person.
Another topic of discussion at the board meeting was the financial implications of the new system. The board is carefully reviewing the village’s current fee structure to ensure that any changes will be fair and transparent.
One consideration is how to handle credit card processing fees, which are typically around 2-3% of the transaction. Beaudin noted that while these fees will be passed on to the payer, the village is committed to disclosing any additional costs upfront.
“We just want to make sure everything is clear and fair before we move forward,” she said. “It’s still a work in progress.”
The village is in the process of finalizing its agreement with FBS. While the deal is not final, Beaudin is optimistic that the system to pay for court tickets will be up and running within the next few months.
“We’re very close,” she said. “We’re just waiting on some final information and making sure we have everything in place before we pull the trigger.”
The move to digital payments is part of a broader effort by the Village of Sea Cliff to modernize its operations and better serve its residents, in tandem with its updates to the Building Code and the establishment of the Long-Range Plan. As the transition progresses, Beaudin said the village plans to continue evaluating its systems and adjusting as needed.
“This is just the beginning,” Beaudin said. “We’re committed to bringing Sea Cliff into the 21st century, and this is a big step in the right direction.”
Residents can expect more updates on the transition at board meetings in the coming months as the village trustees finalize their plans and prepares to launch the new system. In the meantime, those with questions or concerns are encouraged to reach out to the village office for more information at (516) 671-0080.
