Dane County officials say they'll collect $8 million less in child support for about 6,000 families each year because of budget cuts proposed by Republican Gov. Scott Walker.
Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk said a loss of $840,000 in state and federal matching dollars for efforts to collect child support would mean 10 employees in the program would be laid off starting next year.
"Taking money out of the back pockets of parents trying to support their kids at a time when so many families are struggling is just wrong," Falk said Wednesday.
Falk said Dane County has been successful collecting child support owed by a parent for his or her dependent children, securing more than $7 for every dollar spent.
But Cullen Werwie, a spokesman for Walker, said a measure limiting public sector bargaining rights will let the county save "millions of dollars" by raising employee contributions for health insurance and pensions, absorbing reductions in state aid while maintaining services.
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The $840,000 includes the loss of federal matching funds that would occur when the state reduces its contribution to the program, said Falk spokesman Joshua Wescott.
He said the program currently receives two-thirds of its funding from the federal government and one-third from the state.
The county currently manages child support cases for 22,000 families or about 55,000 individuals each year.
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