SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Officials in northwest Iowa’s Woodbury County are considering creating a collections department to go after nearly $12 million in unpaid court fines.  The Sioux City Journal reports part of the money would go to the county, so improving collections would help Woodbury County’s budget.

Several other Iowa counties – including Linn, Polk and Plymouth counties – have already established successful collections programs for unpaid court fines. Usually the job is handled either by the county attorney or sheriff.  Woodbury County Attorney P.J. Jennings says he plans to propose creating a collections department later this year.

The Linn County Sheriff’s office has had a collections program in place since 2003. Major Doug Riniker oversees the effort and says the office collected $807,000 in 2012-13.