At its regular meeting Oct. 27, the Katy City Council approved a resolution to begin accepting online credit card payments for several services later this year.

City of Katy Finance Director Becky Wilkins said the planning for adding the online payment system began more than a year ago.

"This will allow us to offer credit card services for a majority of the services in the city," she said.

The system will allow residents to pay for permits, services from the departments of parks and recreation and public works, and for utilities such as water, Wilkins said.

"People will be able to go online and make their water payment or for things they're getting at the park," she said. "It's really going to enhance their overall interaction with the city by offering them more choices on how they can pay."

City officials estimate that $37,500 in credit card payments will be made a month using the new system.

Online payments for some of the city's services will begin in 30 to 45 days, with the rest to become available by early 2015, Wilkins said.

"The payment for the permits department will take a little longer because we're starting from ground zero and building a new website," she said.

Residents will begin to see inserts in their utility bills notifying of the upcoming availability of online payments, city officials said.

Councilman Steve Pierson said he was eager to see the program come online.

"This is long overdue," he said.