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Proposal in Milw. Co. budget dealing with deadbeats
Proposal in Milw. Co. budget dealing with deadbeats
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The 2014 Milwaukee County budget is expected to be unveiled this week, and one of the proposals involves a new way to crack down on deadbeats -- who are unwilling or unable to make their child support payments.
"Better outcomes, better collections and more support for families. In the course of a year, they`re going to make a difference in a couple of thousand cases," Director of Child Support Services, Jim Sullivan said.
Detailed in Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele's budget proposal is the addition of two District Attorney investigators, costing taxpayers a total of $150,000. If approved, the new hires would take a one-on-one approach to dealing with those delinquent on child support payments.
"With the ability to get out into the field, the D.A. investigator is going to be able to go and take a look. In some cases a knock at the door will get us to compliance," Sullivan said.
The County currently has 124,000 child support cases.
"What I`m interested in is when we have people who on paper aren`t showing any kind of income and aren`t employed. Yet you see them on Facebook flashing cash. Or a new car. We want to know where that income is going. Their first and primary responsibility needs to be with their kids," Sullivan said.
Investigators won't just be tasked with targeting these types of offenders, but they will also help those unable to make payments.
"Our ultimate goal is not to try and solve these problems through the Courthouse. The goal is to solve these at the individual level," Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm said.
The result will be more money for families, and possibly, less of a burden for taxpayers.
"When we have someone who is meeting their obligation in terms of child support, that`s a family that isn`t going to end up on welfare," Sullivan said.
After the budget proposal is presented, the County Board will be able to make amendments. Board members are expected to take a final vote on the budget by early November.
County leaders say this program would be a first-of-its-kind for the state.