Cash will no longer be accepted at the cashiers desk at City Hall in Mississauga

If you need to visit the Civic Centre (which you might think of as the City Hall building) to make a payment, you should note that while the cashiers desk is set to reopen in the not-too-distant future, it will not be accepting cash.

On July 22, Mississauga city council approved cashless payments at the cashiers desk, which is located on the ground floor of the Civic Centre. 

The city says cashless payments will take effect as soon as the desk, which closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, reopens.

The city says the move away from cash payments will help protect staff and residents.

“The cashiers desk has seen a shift towards digital payment methods over cash. Cash transactions account for approximately 30 per cent of the transactions processed at cashiers while it only accounts for two percent of the revenue,” said Gary Kent, Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner, Corporate Services, in a statement. 

“Removing cash payments does help to eliminate the risk of theft, counterfeit money transactions, tax evasion and money laundering.”

The city says cashless payments will also ensure that payments are received and deposited faster, adding that the shift will reduce theft and counterfeit transactions, eliminate the need for armoured car services, eliminate the need to balance cash and prepare cash deposits or exchange cash.

“At the City, cash is mainly used to pay property taxes, despite there being other ways to pay taxes,” said Connie Mesih, Director of Revenue & Materiel Management, in a statement. 

“We’re encouraging residents to make electronic payments as they provide additional levels of convenience, the ability to monitor payment activities and control risks.”

The city says cashiers desk typically processes development charges, property taxes, accounts receivable invoices and the Mississauga Accommodation (hotel) Tax.

Residents, business owners and city employees may still make payments at the cashiers desk by cheque, debit or credit card (although property taxes cannot be paid by credit). 

For property taxes, payments may also be made using online or mobile banking, telephone banking, in-person cash payments at a financial institution, pre-authorized payments or post-dated cheques.

Cover photo courtesy of the City of Mississauga