To adequately fund budgets, elected officials rely on collecting revenue from citizens, encompassing property taxes, fines for code violations, and application fees for permits and licenses. Furthermore, elected officials oversee procurement, ensuring prompt payments to vendors for products and services. However, without a robust digital infrastructure, your municipal or county government may find itself manually processing checks received via mail or in-person at the local clerk's office from citizens and local businesses. Consequently, private-sector partners are subjected to outdated payment procedures, experiencing delays in receiving payment for their goods and services provided to the locality.

By enabling online credit and debit card processing on your government website, elected officials can enhance convenience for citizens and automate payment processing workflows that were previously handled manually. Read on to explore the benefits of digital payment processing for local governments, spanning various departments from tax collection to code enforcement, and learn how you can transition payment collection online.

Why Should Elected Officials Transition Citizen Payment Collection Online?

Digital government payment solutions offer numerous benefits for both elected officials and the constituents they serve.

1. Streamlined Citizen Services: By implementing online payment systems, applications and related fees can be processed seamlessly. Citizens can complete applications digitally, upload required documents, and conveniently pay fees online. This eliminates the need for them to physically visit the clerk's office, enhancing efficiency and accessibility.

2. Efficient Code Enforcement: Modern code enforcement strategies enable officials to collect fines instantly using mobile devices or provide online payment options for code violations. This simplifies the payment process for citizens and visitors, ensuring better compliance and facilitating revenue collection.

3. Simplified Vendor Payments: Digitizing invoice submissions and payments simplifies the procurement process. Vendors can submit invoices digitally, which are then automatically stored in the government cloud. The use of procurement department software streamlines payment processing, strengthening vendor relationships and improving efficiency.

4. Stronger Vendor Relationships: By embracing digital invoicing and payment processes, elected officials can dispel the perception of slow payments in the public sector. Building better relationships with vendors fosters a more collaborative environment, facilitating the maintenance of local infrastructure.

5. Time-Saving Government Accounting: Digitizing government payments eliminates the need for manual entry in general ledgers. All online payments, receipts, and related documents, such as invoices and permit applications, are automatically stored in the government cloud. This saves time, improves accuracy, and provides a comprehensive financial trail.

6. Financial Analytics: Digitized payments enable local government leadership to generate intuitive reports, offering insights into revenue generation, departmental budget allocation, prevalent code violations, and popular permit applications. This data-driven approach empowers informed decision-making and enhances overall governance.

7. Modernized Government Website: Embracing government software leads to an updated and user-friendly municipal or county website. This modernization enables citizens and businesses to easily make tax payments, file applications, and access relevant information, improving user experience and engagement.

8. Diversified Revenue Sources: Efficient collection of application fees and code violation fines bolsters local revenue, allowing for increased investment in neighborhood improvements. Exploring additional revenue sources contributes to the overall financial sustainability of the locality.

9. Simplified Property Financial Records: Local governments can maintain simplified financial records using a GIS map that tracks payments made by businesses and property owners. This helps monitor payment compliance and access finance-related documents associated with specific properties, promoting transparency and accountability.

10. Reliable Government Payment Solutions: gWorks offers comprehensive digital government payment services that seamlessly integrate with gWorks fund accounting modules, ensuring accurate and timely financial record-keeping. Implementing government management software streamlines payment processes across departments, saving time and resources.

By transitioning to digital payment solutions, elected officials can revolutionize their local government operations, enhance citizen services, and drive financial efficiency, ultimately fostering an environment of progress and development.