(Spirit Lake)– The Dickinson county board of supervisors Tuesday held the first reading of a resolution they hope will increase the county’s ability to get reimbursed from parents of juveniles referred to juvenile shelter care facilities.
Iowa code requires the county to pay those costs up front. County officials say the new policy is intended to reimburse the county for atleast some of those costs by making parents come up with the money. The ability of parents to pay will be investigated by the county’s General Relief Director, with that decision being forwarded to the board of supervisors for their approval or revision. The board’s decision will be reported in writing to the parent or person responsible, who will have the right to appeal to the board of supervisors within 20 days of receiving the decision. When a parent or responsible person is found unable to pay, the account will be written off, with the county covering the cost. Parents or the person responsible deemed by the county as being able to pay for the costs will be subject to legal action if they don’t pay-up.
Officials say the county is paying out a substantial amount of money under the current system without getting reimbursed. They say it’s adding up as more juveniles are placed into the system, putting a strain on the county’s budget.
