Middletown Approves New Fee Schedule, Introduces Credit Card Processing Charge

The Middletown Township Board of Supervisors approved an updated fee schedule for 2026, including a credit card processing fee of up to 4 percent for online payments.

The fee schedule, which was approved by the supervisors Monday evening, provides a comprehensive list of charges for municipal services including permits and plan reviews, ensuring consistency across administrative and professional services.

Most changes were minor adjustments, but several areas saw significant increases, according to Middletown Township Director of Finance Laura Hucklebridge.

Contractor licenses increased $20 across all categories, going from $130 to $150 each.

The change was budgeted and represents a total increase of $7,000 from the prior year budget. It is based on an estimated 350 licenses annually.

The largest fee increases impact the Zoning Hearing Board where expenses significantly exceeded revenue during 2025.

The township collected $46,000 in fees but incurred $116,000 in expenses, creating a $70,000 shortfall, Hucklebridge said.

“Last year in 2025, we had a large number of continuances that occurred, and so our expenses were much higher than the fees that we brought in,” Hucklebridge explained.

Each time an applicant requests a continuance, the township must re-advertise, redo mailings, and have lawyers redraft documents, adding duplicate costs.

The new fee schedule introduces charges for continuances and extensions to address the budget gap.

Jim Ennis, the director of building and zoning, said the continuance fees serve a dual purpose.

“They’re going to get charged a fee for every time they ask for a continuance, but I think it actually would deter a lot of continuance requests once we start charging fees for that,” Ennis said.

Fire safety operational permits saw alignment adjustments, with most permits now standardized at $40. Previously, fees ranged from $20 to $50 for similar services.

New fees were added for fire services event standby and training services.

The township previously provided training for daycare centers and other businesses at no cost, but these services often required overtime hours for firefighters, Hucklebridge said.

Park and recreation fees were restructured to be different between for-profit and nonprofit entities using township facilities.

According to Hucklebridge, the changes prioritize nonprofit and residential users over for-profit, non-residential entities.

The municipality saw credit card processing fees increase in 2025, and it will be charging 4 percent to residents and applicants paying by credit card in 2026.

The township paid approximately $50,000 in credit card processing fees last year.

Hucklebridge explained that the costs were covered by taxpayers rather than the residents and applicants using online payment systems.

Township Manager Eden Ratliff noted the importance of fee schedule reviews as part of routine government operations.

The township compared its fees to neighboring municipalities and reviewed legal regulations before making the changes. The policy ensures fees cover the cost of township staff to administer and provide services while remaining competitive with surrounding areas, officials said.

Supervisors Dana Kane and Mike Ksiazek shared appreciation to township officials for undertaking a detailed analysis and proposing the changes.