Wednesday, January 14, 2026 |
Photo – A Denver minted 2021 penny – By Matt Copeland Bigfoot99
Medicine Bow officials question the legality of rounding pennies for cash payments.
President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. Treasury Department to stop minting new pennies last February. Every penny cost 3.7 cents to produce, and the Mint lost $85.3 million on penny production in fiscal year 2024. President Trump called the coin “wasteful” and argued that taxpayers shouldn’t subsidize a currency that costs more to make than it’s worth.
As pennies become harder for businesses to obtain, many retailers are rounding cash totals down to the nearest nickel. Cash‑heavy businesses, such as restaurants, are also adjusting prices to avoid totals that require pennies.
During Monday evening’s Medicine Bow Town Council meeting, elected officials reviewed the town’s policy on pennies. Clerk and Treasurer Karen Heath said cash utility payments will be rounded to the nearest nickel. Other payment methods will not be affected.
Under the proposed policy, totals ending in one or two cents would be rounded down to the nearest dime, while those ending in three or four cents would be rounded up to the next nickel.
The state of Wyoming has not established an official policy on penny rounding. As of this report, only three states have taken formal action on the matter. Georgia and Utah have issued nonbinding guidance for businesses, while New York is the only state to propose legislation that would round cash totals to the nearest nickel or dime.
At Monday’s Medicine Bow Town Council meeting, Mayor Justin George, owner of J B’s Stop‑N‑Shop, said he has adjusted his prices to account for the lack of pennies.
Clerk Treasurer Karen Heath said businesses may choose how to handle pennies, either rounding up or down. She said the proposed policy of rounding down for totals ending in one or two cents and up for those ending in three or four is the most equitable method.
Mayor Justin George said the local bank will no longer provide boxes of pennies for his business. The mayor added that of the roughly 350 billion pennies still in existence, most are not in active circulation.
Mayor Justin George said the town will need to address the lack of pennies in the near future. Clerk Treasurer Karen Heath said that under the proposed policy she will continue accepting pennies as payment but will not give them back as change.
Heath said that as pennies fall out of circulation, the issue will resolve on its own. Until then, the town will need to establish an official policy for handling the coins.
Councilman Lee Cook asked if the town is legally permitted to lose money. Public Works Director Brian Lashley said businesses are prepared to absorb a few cents on certain transactions. Councilman Cook asked if the town, as a government entity, can do the same.
Town Attorney Cameron Smith said he assumed the practice is legal but was not certain. Attorney Smith offered to research the matter further at the council’s request.
Clerk Treasurer Heath said that under the proposed policy the town could set different prices for cash and card or check payments. Attorney Cameron Smith said the approach may unfairly disadvantage cash payers, adding that further research is needed before the policy is adopted.
Heath said she will contact the town’s accounting software provider, Caselle, and ask if the system can automatically round each bill. If not, she will have to make the adjustments by hand.
Following the discussion, the Medicine Bow Town Council voted to table the matter until Attorney Cameron Smith determines if penny rounding is legal for a municipality.
