Debt collection agency hired by Wisconsin county for extreme cases

A Wisconsin county has called on a Madison-based debt collection agency to handle extreme billing cases, the Ashland Current reports. Bayfield county will receive help from collectors as a way to save money and reduce the amount of full-time staff necessary for the recouping process. "We're looking at it as a way to have a professional make collections that we're unable to make ... it's only after a point and time where it's clear that we’re unable to collect, whether it's fines or forfeitures or other expenses, that we'll be turning it over to this agency," Bayfield County administrator Mark Abeles-Allison told the media outlet. Abeles-Allision added that the agency will likely be a good investment because it has access to various databases that the county may not have certification for. Hiring a collection agency is not uncommon in Wisconsin, notes Counties Association legislative director John Reinemann, pointing to the fact that many areas don't have collection staff on hand to conduct proceedings or send out notices. One example of state debt was reported by Buffalo Rising, as transportation revenue bonds have recently been issued to cover unpaid vehicle registration fee debt.