LUCAS COUNTY, OH (Toledo News Now) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine wants to expand a program used in Lucas County to the rest of the state.
In 2008, Lucas County partnered with the Ohio Attorney General's Office in a pilot program for county collections assistance. On Thursday, DeWine held a press conference to say the program has been successful enough to begin rolling it out statewide.
Over the last five years, more than $800,000 has been returned to Lucas County. The unpaid fees include court costs, attorney reimbursements and other money owed to county entities. Most cases were considered uncollectible through standard county measures, but the existing Attorney General Collections Department was able to utilize in-house collectors and outside council lawyers.
The program has already been expanded to 34 other local government entities. Leaders say it's important that government entities work well together to receive what they are owed.
"Battered Women, Victims of Crime, you know, things that matter and programs that matter," DeWine said. "It's only right that these people pay what they owe."
"This is showing you good government working together," said Bernie Quilter, clerk of courts for Lucas County. "This is a county government working with a state government. It's a Republican and Democrat working together for a good government to return tax dollars back."
DeWine and Quilter hope to reach their initial goal of $1 million returned soon.
