GRANTS, N.M. – The City of Grants is reconsidering a possible move toward cashless operations after residents raised concerns about how such a policy could affect people who rely on cash to pay for city services.
Mayor Erik Garcia said July 14 that the proposal is not final and acknowledged that the initial public response was unfavorable.
“We’re not putting that in stone,” Garcia said. “We tested the waters, and the waters were not good.”
The issue was raised during a recent Grants City Council meeting, where a resident questioned the city’s possible transition away from accepting cash. The resident argued that requiring residents who do not have a bank account to purchase a money order t0pay their bill puts a “burden” on the people of Grants. Garcia participated in that meeting by phone and apologized for not attending in person.
“I hate being on the phone. I didn’t want to do that,” Garcia said.
Garcia said the discussion about cashless operations arose partly from a minor audit finding involving cash handling. He said reducing the amount of cash collected by city departments could improve accountability and reduce the risk of money being mishandled.
“These are taxpayer dollars, so to be transparent with everything we do, getting rid of cash is good because it prevents sticky fingers,” Garcia said.
He also pointed to the labor involved in accepting, counting, documenting and depositing cash. Departments that could be affected include the Grants Public Library and the city’s senior center.
Garcia acknowledged, however, that refusing cash could create difficulties for residents who do not have access to credit cards, debit cards or other electronic payment methods.
“Putting a burden on the people? We see that now,” Garcia said. “But it’s not set in stone.”