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News Release

County Treasurer Addresses Penny Shortage, Encourages Customers To Pay With Exact Change - 12/15/25

Vancouver, Wash. - The U.S. Treasury Department has ceased minting new pennies for circulation, creating a new challenge for public offices and other organizations that accept cash payments and must provide exact change. The Clark County Treasurer’s Office is responding proactively to ensure continued service to customers while minimizing disruption.

 

The Treasurer’s Office has confirmed with its primary banking partner, JPMorgan Chase, that a nationwide penny shortage is affecting the bank’s ability to fulfill coin orders at this time.

 

“While pennies may seem insignificant, the inability to reliably obtain them has real operational impacts for public offices that accept cash,” said Alishia Topper, Clark County Treasurer. “Our responsibility is to manage public funds carefully, communicate clearly with the public, and avoid unnecessary administrative costs or burdens on customers.”

 

Until additional federal or state guidance, or legislative action, addresses the issue, taxpayers who make cash payments are encouraged to pay with exact change.

 

In addition to the impact on the Treasurer’s Office, the penny shortage will eventually impact all government organizations that accept cash. Treasurer Topper is recommending two potential approaches:

 

Request exact change
Requesting exact change for cash transactions is the simplest option, particularly when prices are fixed by statute or external agreement. Organizations choosing this approach should clearly post signage informing customers of the policy. The Treasurer’s Office will adopt this policy and began displaying signage on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025.

 

Round total charges down to the nearest $0.05
For fees established in county code or organizational policy and where no revenue-sharing partners are involved, rounding total charges down to the nearest five cents may be an option. Taxes, including sales tax, must still be remitted to the State of Washington based on the pre-rounded amount. While federal guidance allows rounding up if properly disclosed, doing so can complicate tax and revenue-sharing calculations and impose unnecessary costs on customers. For these reasons, rounding up is not advised. Organizations should consult legal counsel and relevant state partners before implementing any rounding policy.

 

The Treasurer’s Office also advises against stockpiling pennies. Handling and storing large quantities of coin increases administrative burden and the risk of loss. Any losses, regardless of amount, must be reported to the Washington State Auditor.

 

“Stockpiling low-value coin creates avoidable risk and administrative overhead,” Treasurer Topper added. “When practical alternatives exist, it is not a responsible use of public resources.”

 

The Treasurer’s Office will continue to monitor developments and share updates as additional information or guidance becomes available.

 

For questions or to discuss these options further, please contact the Clark County Treasurer’s Office at 564.397.2255.

County Treasurer Addresses Penny Shortage, Encourages Customers To Pay With Exact Change - 12/15/25

Vancouver, Wash. - The U.S. Treasury Department has ceased minting new pennies for circulation, creating a new challenge for public offices and other organizations that accept cash payments and must provide exact change. The Clark County Treasurer’s Office is responding proactively to ensure continued service to customers while minimizing disruption.

 

The Treasurer’s Office has confirmed with its primary banking partner, JPMorgan Chase, that a nationwide penny shortage is affecting the bank’s ability to fulfill coin orders at this time.

 

“While pennies may seem insignificant, the inability to reliably obtain them has real operational impacts for public offices that accept cash,” said Alishia Topper, Clark County Treasurer. “Our responsibility is to manage public funds carefully, communicate clearly with the public, and avoid unnecessary administrative costs or burdens on customers.”

 

Until additional federal or state guidance, or legislative action, addresses the issue, taxpayers who make cash payments are encouraged to pay with exact change.

 

In addition to the impact on the Treasurer’s Office, the penny shortage will eventually impact all government organizations that accept cash. Treasurer Topper is recommending two potential approaches:

 

Request exact change
Requesting exact change for cash transactions is the simplest option, particularly when prices are fixed by statute or external agreement. Organizations choosing this approach should clearly post signage informing customers of the policy. The Treasurer’s Office will adopt this policy and began displaying signage on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025.

 

Round total charges down to the nearest $0.05
For fees established in county code or organizational policy and where no revenue-sharing partners are involved, rounding total charges down to the nearest five cents may be an option. Taxes, including sales tax, must still be remitted to the State of Washington based on the pre-rounded amount. While federal guidance allows rounding up if properly disclosed, doing so can complicate tax and revenue-sharing calculations and impose unnecessary costs on customers. For these reasons, rounding up is not advised. Organizations should consult legal counsel and relevant state partners before implementing any rounding policy.

 

The Treasurer’s Office also advises against stockpiling pennies. Handling and storing large quantities of coin increases administrative burden and the risk of loss. Any losses, regardless of amount, must be reported to the Washington State Auditor.

 

“Stockpiling low-value coin creates avoidable risk and administrative overhead,” Treasurer Topper added. “When practical alternatives exist, it is not a responsible use of public resources.”

 

The Treasurer’s Office will continue to monitor developments and share updates as additional information or guidance becomes available.

 

For questions or to discuss these options further, please contact the Clark County Treasurer’s Office at 564.397.2255.