OILTON - Oilton City Hall will no longer issue pennies as change, according to a recent announcement. The action was approved by the Oilton City Council members during the regular meeting on Dec. 9.
City Clerk Shannon Wilson said the change will impact customers who pay their utility bills in cash and is intended to simplify transactions.
“We’re just going to round up to the nearest five cents when paying cash,” Wilson said. “For our cash customers, if the bill ends in something like 97, we’ll round it up to the nearest five-cent increment and give you a credit on your account for the difference.”
Through this process any amount rounded up will not be lost but instead applied as a credit toward the customer’s balance. Depending on the total that credit could be between one and four cents.
“If it’s $19.99, it would round up to $20.00 and that’s a one-cent credit,” Wilson said. “If it’s $19.84, it will round up to $19.85, and that’s also a one-cent credit.”
Utility customers are encouraged to bring exact change when paying in person at City Hall as staff will no longer be able to return pennies.
During the meeting it was explained the decision was being put forward to get ahead of things in the midst of a penny shortage and the one cent piece being discontinued.
“Any overage is credited right back to the customer’s account,” Wilson said. “It all just depends on what their total is.”
The policy was formally adopted by a council vote and has been publicly announced on the City Hall Facebook page. The change applies only to cash payments and does not affect customers who pay by check or other non-cash methods.