Stafford Borough Council is proposing to close its cashier desks in Stafford and Stone in a drive to save £80,000 a year.
The authority claims the services, at Stafford’s Civic Centre and Stone Town Hall, are under used.
It says most people now pay their council tax by direct debit, via the internet or over the phone, rather than over the counter.
However, if the closure plans are approved, the council says those wishing to pay their rates in person will be able to do so at several local post offices and shops.
Around 1,500 residents, who are unable to use other methods for payment, would be given a special swipe card so they can pay at more than 50 venues throughout the borough including supermarkets, post offices and local shops.
And as part of the move, the council says it will be making it easier to pay by direct debit.
Stafford borough residents will be able to choose from four dates in the month for their payments to be made, rather than the single date offered at present.
The authority is expected to save up to £80,000 a year by not having the cashier services.
Over the last few years payments over the counter in Stafford have more than halved and there has been a drop of more than 75 per cent in Stone.
The proposal is set to go before the council’s cabinet on August 5 but any change to the cashier functions will not come into effect until January 2009.
Full details will be given to people affected by the planned move later this year.
The borough council says it already has a high level of customers paying by direct debit at 62 per cent, compared to the 56 per cent from local authorities of a similar size.
Councillor Mike Heenan, cabinet member for resources, said: “With such an enormous drop in the numbers using the counter services at both Stafford and Stone we must adapt this function to move with the times.
“By encouraging the use of direct debit to pay council tax we are improving the efficiency of how we do business as well as making savings.”
The council will be looking to redeploy staff affected by the closure in other areas of the authority.
For more details on the ways to pay council tax, go to the ‘Advice and Benefits’ section of the council’s website at www.staffordbc.gov.uk
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