Carpentersville looks to collect money via Internet

Is your Carpentersville water and sewer bill due, but you can't find the time to get to village hall to pay it?

Or have you procrastinated buying a village vehicle sticker, hoping a police officer doesn't slap a ticket on your car?

Soon, Carpentersville residents may not need to leave their homes to pay for certain village services.

The village board on Tuesday will consider enrolling in the state treasurer's E-Pay program, which allows residents to pay bills online or over the telephone.

"We are doing this for the convenience, for people who are used to paying other bills online," Village Manager Craig Anderson said.

Several residents have asked for the service, he said. "Water bills might get paid more timely, and more people will buy vehicle stickers if it is relatively easy to do," he said.

More than 450 local governments and state agencies have signed up for the service, including East Dundee, Sleepy Hollow and Lake in the Hills.

E-pay allows residents to use MasterCard, American Express and Discover cards to pay for water and sewer bills and to buy a vehicle sticker.

Currently, the finance department accepts only checks, cash or money orders for payments made in person at village hall or by mail.

"It only makes sense to make payments easier," Village President Bill Sarto said. "We are trying to collect money. Making it easier for our residents is a good idea. This gives residents more options."

Though the system is provided to the village free of charge, a small processing fee is added depending on the bill's amount.

Fees start at $1 for transactions up to $25. Meanwhile, a water and sewer bill of $100 will run you $2.50.

A fee schedule is available on the state treasurer's Web site, www.illinoisepay.com.

The village does not collect any of the additional fees, Anderson said.