To Public Institutions that handle credit cards,

If your organization has a Point of Sale component and accepts credit cards for payment, Square may be a useful tool. Square is an amazing little, free smartphone accessory for accepting credit card payments with a smartphone ( Android or iPhone ). The processing rates for credit cards are comparable to other services I've seen. Transaction reports, exports, and an API are also available for integration with other IT systems.

I remember Fixed Asset scanners costing more than $1,500 at Solano County. Nowadays, smartphones for $500 can provide several times the functionality, including barcode scanning and credit card swiping.
I encourage public agencies and nonprofits to seize opportunities to reduce expenses by leveraging lightweight, but powerful technologies. Square is one example, but it just might be a good place to start.