Abbeville takes step to recover delinquent city court fines, costs

Abbeville City Court shares an issue with similar entities around the country.
“Nationwide there is a problem,” City Attorney Ike Funderburk explained during a committee meeting Tuesday. “That problem is getting people who have been convicted or pled to crimes to pay their fines and their costs. Millions of dollars are owed to court systems around the country.
“Abbeville City Court is not different.”
An estimated figure of fines, costs and forfeitures owed to Abbeville City Court is in the range of $200,000.
The Abbeville City Council took a step forward during Tuesday’s ordinance committee meeting to recoup the money. The council voted 5-0 in committee to amend an ordinance that will allow a third-party group to collect what is owed with a percentage tacked on.
“The legislature understood there was a problem,” Funderburk said. “The legislature has given all of the court systems the ability to enter into contracts with collection agencies for the purpose of collecting those fines and costs.”
Municipal Collections of America will collect the money owed to city court. A 35-percent fee will be added to the total amount that is owed. The agency works specifically with municipalities in that regard. The Village of Maurice Board of Aldermen implemented a similar plan earlier this year. Funderburk told the council that City Court Judge Richard Putnam has backed the plan.
“The goal is to collect the monies that are due to city court,” Funderburk said, “so that city court can be more self sustaining.”
Councilman Brady Broussard Jr., District C, said the plan can only help.
“That takes pressure off our budget,” Broussard said. “When you look at the size of those delinquent fines, that puts pressure on every other department in this city. It gives relief to what is already a tight budget.”
Councilman Francis Touchet Jr., District B, said he could not agree more.
“This is my 13th year on this council,” Touchet said. “I can tell you, this has always been an issue. We lose money at city court.
“We have to do something to offset some of those costs.”
The change in the ordinance to allow for the collection will go before a full council vote during the next regular meeting on Nov. 3.
“We are trying to collect,” Funderburk said. “We are using the tools the legislature has given us to do that.”