But after years of ducking financial obligations to their children, these two Utahns have racked up a combined $50,000 in unpaid child support payments.
They're among 72,000 Utah parents owing $325 million in back child support, according to a legislative probe released on Thursday. But they also belong to a special class of professionals who are licensed to do business in Utah - licenses that the state Office of Recovery Services could threaten to pull as a means of collecting on unpaid child support.
The probe was requested by former Orem Republican Rep. Katharine Bryson, who suspected Utah is too lenient in its practice of writing off debt owed to taxpayers for children in state custody. Parents who lose custody of their children due to abuse or neglect allegations are on the hook for child support, which pays to keep the children in foster care. Investigators determined that recovery agents "generally [have] valid reasons" for closing cases as uncollectible.
"We're willing to admit the vast majority of debt is unrecoverable," said Legislative Auditor General John Schaff.
But the audit shows state agents spent $40 million, mostly on lawyers, staff salaries and collection agents, to recover $159 million in child support in 2005. With that in mind, Schaff said "we need to do more" to ensure Utah children get the money they deserve.
Auditors suggest the state adopt better enforcement tools, such as threatening to yank professional, driving, hunting and fishing licenses from parents who have the means to pay but don't. They also recommended that the state publish the names of deadbeat parents and tap 1099 tax forms to identify income for self-employed parents who understate their earnings.
Granting recovery agents the power to strip recreational and professional licenses would require legislation. Under Utah law, agents must petition the courts before taking such action.
Mark Brasher, director of the Office of Recovery Services, concurred with the audit's findings, but warned legislators to act conservatively. Brasher said it defeats the aim to strip a parent's professional license if it means depriving him or her the chance to earn a living.
Senate President John Valentine said he worries about granting agents "Gestapo-type" powers, noting, "There would be significant resistance to that from both bodies" of the Legislature.
Audit supervisor Darren Marshall said sometimes just the threat of suspending a license is enough to prod someone into compliance.
"You can issue warnings. It doesn't have to be a blanket suspension," Marshall said, noting 36 other states allow agents to remove licenses without court approval. This year in Colorado, the practice garnered $8.6 million in back payments.
