SURCHARGES ON ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
On Aug. 26, 2025, the Sarasota County Commission approved Resolution No. 2025-165 , authorizing the County Administrator to implement surcharges on electronic payments made to the county.
1. Why is the county adding surcharges?
Credit/debit card processing costs Sarasota County Government millions of dollars each year.
These costs were paid out of departmental budgets, reducing funds for other services.
The surcharge model shifts the processing cost to those who choose electronic payment, aligning with industry standards and easing budget strain.
2. What are the new electronic payment surcharges as of Feb. 1, 2026?
PRNR payments: 2.45% of the payment amount.
PRNR will not accept eCheck/ACH payments at this time.
3. Who sets and collects the surcharge?
PRNR uses RecTrac software to process reservation and registration fees. The surcharge is applied to transactions processed through this system and is used to help offset the cost of processing payments.
4. When do the new surcharges take effect?
The new surcharges take effect Feb. 1, 2026.
5. Will everyone pay these surcharges?
No. The surcharge only applies to credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets or eCheck/ACH payments made through Paymentus.
You can avoid the surcharges by paying with cash or other non-electronic methods. Verify which non-electronic methods are accepted before making payment.