Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Friday, July 13, 2001 Governor Scott McCallum Secretary Jennifer Reinert

News Media Contact Rachel Biittner 608/266-8710 e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784

CHILD SUPPORT COLLECTIONS REACH NEARLY $1 MILLION
As a result of the child support lien docket

MADISON – Department of Workforce Development Secretary Jennifer Reinert announced today that nearly $1 million has been collected in back child support as the result of the new child support lien docket, which has been in operation for only nine months.

In October, parents who owed more than $30,000 in back child support were placed on the lien docket. The threshold has now been lowered to $12,500. Those parents must satisfy the lien by paying it off in full or making a significant payment that is agreed upon by all parties, or the lien will be deducted from any proceeds of the sale of their property.

"It is heartening to know that there is an additional one million dollars in the hands of families in need in Wisconsin because of the success of the lien docket. It has encouraged many parents to pay what they owe in back child support and we certainly expect it will encourage even more to come forward in the upcoming months and years," said Reinert.

The counties with the three highest collection rates include: Milwaukee County, $133,000, Waukesha County, $100,000, and Dane County, $82,000. A chart with collections by county is attached.

"It is important to recognize that not all of the payments were made by people who had been placed on the lien docket. Many had heard about the lien docket and in order to prevent their name from being placed on it, they decided to pay up. This is an important distinction and something we’d like to see a lot more of," said Reinert.

There are currently 23,640 names on the lien docket. The next set of names will be added in September, for those parents who owe more than $10,000 in back child support. Currently nearly $2 billion in back child support is owed in the State of Wisconsin.

Adams - $24,216 Brown - $70,075 Chippewa - $19,665 Columbia - $5,000 Dane - $82,138 Douglas - $9,150 Eau Claire - $79,702 Florence - $27,860 Fond du Lac - $25,814 Juneau - $19,323 Kenosha - $43,128 Marinette - $10,000 Milwaukee - $132,879		Outagamie - $78,168 Ozaukee - $31,250 Pierce - $42,353 Polk - $10,000 Racine - $56,124 Richland - $18,354 Sheboygan - $12,000 Trempealeau - $5,053 Washington - $53,845 Waukesha - $99,779 Waupaca - $20,000 Wood - $2,000
Statewide Total - $978,000

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