Mayor Clinton I. Young, Jr. announced today, along with Management Services Commissioner Mary Young, that the City of Mount Vernon will be using an online payment system to make it easier for people who get parking tickets to pay their fines on their time.  In Mayor Young’s 2008 State of the City Address, he explained that Mount Vernon would take any and every opportunity to extend the useful hours of City Hall.  The city has now partnered with Link2Gov and their system Pay2Gov Express to begin accepting payments — credit, debit and electronic checks — online in a quick and cost-efficient manner, and at all hours of the day.

“My administration has been working diligently to make our city government more accessible through as many sources as possible,” said Mayor Young.  “This city is moving toward becoming an e-government, which in the end reduces our day-to-day operating costs.  As we expand the uses of the system our savings will continue to increase, and that’s good news for taxpayers.”

To use the new service, you need only go to www.CMVNY.com, click on the “Pay Your Parking Ticket Online” button, type in your ticket number and license plate, choose your method of payment (either credit, debit, or electronic check), enter your information, and you’re done!

“We have tried to make this process as simple and as user-friendly as possible,” said Commissioner Young.  “This system, through our website CMVNY.com, gives the opportunity of convenience to those who need to pay their parking tickets without having to leave work or the comfort of their home to do it.  In the coming months, the system will expand to include the processing of parking permit fees, building permit fees, recreation program fees, and hopefully, in the coming year, taxes.”

The City of Mount Vernon made a point of taking advantage of this system, which is designed for use by governments.

“Mount Vernon has now taken a giant step forward with technology in offering an on-line payment option for parking tickets,” said Patricia Albano, Director of Parking Ticket Collections.  “It is a convenient, simple and fast method of paying welcomed by the both ticket holder and Parking Ticket Collections staff.”

While highly customized Web payment portals can take several months to launch, Pay2Gov Express allows government organizations to set up an out-of-the-box payment application and rapidly go live, without the added expense of up-front project management and development costs.

“Pay2Gov Express levels the playing field for small and mid-size government groups and associations like the City of Mount Vernon, as well as cash-strapped businesses and non-profits,” said Frank D’Angelo, group president, Metavante Payment Solutions, which includes Link2Gov.  “Meeting customers’ expectations, reducing inefficient paper-based processes and going green, as well as accelerating the revenue cycle and reducing the amount of walk-in payments in a time of heightened security and liability concerns — these benefits are now within reach for organizations of any size.”

To pay you’re parking ticket fine online or just for more information and news about the City of Mount Vernon please visit www.CMVNY.com.