York court system contracts two agencies for fine collection

The total amount of unpaid court fines owed to the York, Pennsylvania, county court system has increased by nearly $30 million in the past four years, according to the York Daily Record.

 "This thing grows exponentially," Don O'Shell, county clerks of courts, tells the news source. "Obviously the taxpayer is picking up the tab." A lack of changes at the state and federal level have resulted in the overwhelming debt, and county commissioners have hired a debt collection firm to bring in past dues. York-based collection firm CBY Systems has been contracted, in addition to a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based outfit that the county was already using. The York Dispatch adds that CBY will earn a 25 percent commission for all monies collected. Annually, the court only collects around 30 percent of what is actually owed. O'Shell explains to the Record that due to the sheer number of cases, he will focus his efforts on the most uncooperative offenders. According to Chuck Noll, county chief clerk and administrator, all money recouped will be donated to the county's general fund. He added that the more delinquent accounts the county collects, the less tax money will be required to fund the services of the agencies.