Monday, March 02, 2009

More deadbeat dads (and moms) are a sign of the times; small daily lists names and amounts owed

The poor economy has seen a rise in the number of parents delinquent in their child support payments. A report by Paul Glasser of The State Journal in Frankfort, Ky., circulation 10,000, found that 72 local individuals in Franklin County, population 46,000, owed as much as $55,499 and as little as $271 in payments. And using the state open-records law, he listed the debtors and the amounts. We've never seen a newspaper do that, but it sounds like a good idea; might even make some pay up.

"A total of about $1.4 billion in child support payments are owed in 325,000 cases across the state," writes Glasser. Franklin County Attorney Rick Sparks says payments are down 1 percent. "Simply put, people just aren't working," he told Glasser. "We have seen a lot of requests to modify, reduce or hold child support payments in abeyance."

Frankfort is the state capital and government is the county's major employer, but it also has some industries. A few have closed in the last year, putting many out of work and making it more difficult to pay child support. Between June and December 2008 the county attorney's office was able to collect 56 percent of the $2.9 million in child support obligations. (Read more)

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