By switching billing software providers, Coaldale borough stands to save hundreds of dollars each month.

During Tuesday’s meeting, council members voted unanimously to change from MuniBilling to Diversified billing software.

Borough Secretary Suzanne Whilden told council that Diversified’s contract for the first year will cost $8,480, which includes set up fees. The annual rate will then go to $3,780, she said.

Whilden said that the borough chose a $190 option where bills sent to residents include a bar code.

“You can get a scanner and scan it. It pulls it up on the computer so there is no chance of operator error,” she said.

Diversified officials told Whilden that they can start setting up the system as soon as possible, however, the next billing cycle could be delayed by a few weeks.

“We can get it done but the bills might be - in a worst-case scenario - a few weeks late but he doesn’t expect them to be like that,” Whilden said.

The cost per month with Diversified will average about $300, she said.

“Will there be an increase every year?” councilman Francis Hutta asked.

Should there be a significant price jump, council President Angela Krapf said the borough could look for another billing service. She stressed that Diversified’s price is “significantly less” than what the borough has been paying for MuniBilling.

In February, Whilden told council that MuniBilling charges $98 per month, but would enact a mandatory 3-year subscription beginning in April.

When that happens, costs will jump to $300 per month for the remainder of 2023. But rates for 2024 will rise to $875 per month, and the third year of the contract sees monthly fees at $1,000.

Hutta’s motion to switch to Diversified was seconded by Councilwoman Claire Remington.

Faced with similar increases from MuniBilling, the borough’s sewer and water authorities also recently decided to switch to Diversified.

In other business, council:

• Reappointed Francis Hutta III to the Coaldale Sewer Authority.

• Learned that the Coaldale Fire Department responded to 13 calls to date.

• Announced that the roof replacement project at the Coaldale Complex was recently completed.