Greendale Township | Official Public Notice | June 2026

Why Greendale Township Discourages Cash Payments

Greendale Township is committed to serving residents efficiently, securely, and transparently. To better protect both our residents and our staff, we strongly encourage using checks, money orders, or other non-cash payment methods for all township property tax transactions. Below, we explain the key reasons behind this change.

The Risks of Accepting Cash

1. Counterfeit Currency

  • Counterfeit bills pose a real and growing risk to local governments. When the township unknowingly accepts counterfeit bills, which are then mixed with other cash payments unrelated to any specific resident, the township must cover the losses using taxpayers’ money.
  • Effective immediately, the Greendale Township treasurer will run all cash through a counting machine, which also has counterfeit detection. It will be at the treasurer’s discretion to choose whether to accept or deny cash that is presented if the treasurer has doubts or concerns that it may be counterfeit.
  • This verification step, while necessary, adds processing time to every cash transaction. Residents paying by check or money order will experience faster service.
  • Due to this extra step, residents paying with cash may be asked to step aside while those paying with a check or money order are processed. To avoid delays, please consider paying by other methods rather than in cash.

2. Staff and Resident Security

  • Keeping large amounts of cash on township premises creates unnecessary security risks for our staff and our township.
  • The safety of our residents and township staff is of top concern, and having large amounts of cash on collection days puts unnecessary risk on our township residents and staff.
  • Reducing cash on hand is the best practice for small government offices and protects everyone involved.

3. Bank Deposit Logistics

  • Each cash deposit requires a staff member to physically travel to the bank — sometimes multiple times per week, depending on volume.
  • Our township has a check processing machine, which can be used remotely and saves the township money and time by reducing trips to the bank for direct deposits.

4. Processing Delays

  • Cash payments require counting, verification, and logging — all of which slow down the transaction process.
  • Errors in cash handling can require time-consuming reconciliation.
  • Non-cash payments are processed more quickly and with greater accuracy.
  • Due to this extra step, residents paying with cash may be asked to step aside while those paying with a check or money order are processed.

Accepted Payment Methods

We encourage residents to use the following payment methods:

  • Personal Check — Make payable to Greendale Township
  • Money Order — Available at most banks, post offices, and some retail stores
  • Cashier’s Check — Available at your bank or credit union
  • Online Payment — Visit https://bsaonline.com to pay securely online
  • Credit Card & ACH — Call to make a credit card payment or ACH payment at 989.656.9594. At this time we can not accept credit transactions in person.

Please include your name and parcel number on your check or money order. Always submit the property stub with the payment. There is a bar code on the stub that the treasurer now scans for all bills. Not having this stub could delay processing.

We Understand Cash Is Sometimes the Only Option

We recognize that not everyone has access to a bank account or other payment method. If you can only pay in cash, please know that we will always accept it. We simply ask that residents be aware of the additional steps required and allow extra processing time when paying with cash.

Our staff will treat every resident with respect and helpfulness, regardless of how you choose to pay.

Questions, Concerns, or Accessibility Requests?

If you have questions about accepted payment methods, need assistance, or require this notice in an alternative accessible format, please contact the Greendale Township Office:

Greendale Township Treasurer:

Angela Brown

Phone: 989.506.3260

Email: treas@greendaletwpmidcomi.org

Office Hours: Wednesdays from 5 pm – 7 pm; call to verify

Address: 4750 W. Isabella Rd., Shepherd, MI

Accessibility notes: This notice is intended to support accessible public communication, including readable fonts, sufficient contrast, clear headings, and plain language. Residents may request reasonable accommodation or an alternative format by contacting the Township Office. Last updated: June 2026.