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Will County committee weighs countywide policy for rounding cash tax payments after pennies are discontinued
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Summary
The committee discussed a proposed policy for the Will County Treasurer's office to handle cash tax payments after the United States Mint discontinues pennies; Treasurer-office representative Brophy estimated a worst‑case rounding impact of about $20,000 but said a more realistic estimate is $3,000–$4,000, and legal counsel said treating cash payers uniformly posed no equal‑protection concern.
The Will County Finance Committee debated how the treasurer’s office should handle tax bills that include penny amounts if the United States Mint discontinues the penny.
Treasurer‑office speaker Brophy told the committee that, if every tax bill were paid in cash and rounding were required, “this might amount to $20,000.” He later said, “In reality, it it probably means more like 3 or $4,000,” because most taxpayers pay by check or electronically. Brophy asked the committee how it would like change handled when taxpayers walk in with bills that end in a few pennies.
Committee members debated options: rounding down for all cash payments, rounding at the half‑nickel threshold (50¢), or adopting a countywide policy that would also affect fees and permits in other offices. One member argued rounding down would be a positive message to taxpayers; another cautioned that rounding every billed amount countywide would complicate accounting and distribution to taxing bodies, because many calculations are currently balanced to the penny.
Legal counsel Kathy said she did not see an equal‑protection problem with treating everyone who pays cash the same: "We're treating everyone who pays with cash the same. It shouldn't be an issue," she said, drawing an analogy to gas stations that price differently for cash and credit.
The committee directed staff to draft a resolution for the next meeting to address the cash‑payments issue for the treasurer’s office; members also asked staff to estimate how much rounding would likely cost the county given the proportion of electronic and check payments versus cash.
