County moves to collect fines

Will County, IL, is in a bit of a bind. It recently ordered $17,565,600 in fines from 2000 to 2004 that have yet to be paid. County Finance Director Paul Rafac is pretty pessimistic that they county will see much, if any, of the money. According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, most of the debtors are broke, moved away, or in jail.

Quelle surprise.

So the county ? much like many municipalities across the country ? is looking to collection agencies to recoup some of their losses. Talks started with one Chicago-based collection firm, but County Board Chairman Jim Moustis suggested a bidding process instead.

Many counties and municipalities are reluctant to burden states? attorneys general with collection issues. It ends up being an expensive waste of time, generally speaking ? not just in terms of man-hours, but in terms of jail space for incarcerated scofflaws. Said Assistant State’s Atty. Phil Mock, ?Do we want to put people in jail—that’s costing us money, because they don’t have the money to pay us?”