Article Text

Fairfax County could soon begin rounding cash transactions for government services to the nearest five cents as the nation’s supply of pennies dwindles.

The Board of Supervisors authorized a public hearing for July 14 at 4 p.m. on proposed changes to the county’s rules for providing change. If adopted, the amended ordinance would allow cash totals to be rounded up or down.

The board scheduled the hearing through its administrative agenda without discussion.

Virginia lawmakers granted localities temporary authority this year to adjust cash payments for taxes, programs and other services. The legislation, sponsored by Del. Vivian Watts, D-14, is intended as a stopgap and expires July 1, 2027.

The Virginia Department of Taxation must submit recommendations before the 2027 General Assembly session begins in January, giving lawmakers time to develop longer-term rules.

The U.S. Mint stopped making pennies last fall and struck its final batch on Nov. 12. Federal officials pointed to production costs, which had climbed to 3.69 cents for each one-cent coin.

County staff said pennies are already unavailable at times at locations that accept cash, including community centers and offices collecting taxes and fees or selling goods and services. In some cases, residents have intentionally received incorrect change because exact amounts were unavailable.

Officials warned that such discrepancies will become more frequent as the purchasable supply shrinks, creating problems involving revenue reconciliation and equal treatment across county departments and agencies.

Pennies are not expected to disappear immediately. Federal officials estimate that U.S. coins typically remain in circulation for about 30 years, and coins dating to the 1960s or earlier still occasionally turn up as change.

In fiscal 2024, the U.S. Mint produced and shipped approximately 3.2 billion pennies. They accounted for 57% of all coins manufactured that year.