Debt Setoff Program participants enjoy another banner year in '08

• 2008 Debt Setoff Clearinghouse statistics
• More information on the Debt Setoff Program

Counties and county entities participating in the N.C. Debt Setoff Program in 2008 helped realize a more than 50 percent gain over debts collected by those participating in the 2007 calendar year.

Statewide the program resulted in almost $12.85 million in unpaid debts being awarded to 97 counties and county entities in 2008. In 2007, participants collected a little less than $8.48 million statewide.

Through a debt setoff joint clearinghouse, local governments may submit any outstanding delinquent debt (totaling $50 or more) to the N.C. Department of Revenue to attempt to offset delinquent debts against individual income tax refunds and N.C. Education Lottery winnings.

Mecklenburg County Emergency Medical Services boosted its returns by more than 1,000 percent from 2007 to 2008 to top all N.C. participants.