RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF INCREASED COUNTY CHILD SUPPORT FUNDING

Sauk County administers the Child Support Enforcement Program on behalf of the state, providing services to Sauk County residents including paternity establishment, obtaining child support and health insurance orders for children, and enforcing and modifying those orders. It is understood that parents who provide financial and emotional support to their children enhance their children’s well-being, economic security, and success. Sauk County’s Child Support Agency ensures that parents take responsibility for the care and well-being of their children, supports the involvement of parents in their children’s lives, and provides services to both custodial and noncustodial parents. The Child Support Enforcement Program of Wisconsin is an effective investment in Wisconsin’s future as child support increases self-sufficiency, reduces child poverty, and has a positive effect on children’s well-being. Wisconsin’s Child Support Enforcement Program is ranked second in the nation for collecting current support and is incredibly cost-effective, collecting an average of $5.56 in support for every dollar invested in the program. County child support agencies in Wisconsin collected $934 million in child support during 2017, 95% of which went directly to families, while 5% reimbursed public assistance programs. Wisconsin’s child support agencies help save taxpayer dollars by establishing health insurance orders for 97% of cases, which reduces state Medicaid costs by moving children from public assistance to private insurance.  Unfortunately, state funding for county child support services has not increased above the 2007 funding level while county agency costs have steadily increased due to growing caseloads, inflation, and new federal regulations. Wisconsin’s strong performance in child support is at risk without additional state funding. A diminished performance by county child support agencies would result in reduced federal funding to Wisconsin and decreased federal funding would lead to less funding for Sauk County’s child support agency. This could lead to reductions in child support staff, child support services, and reduced child support collections. Any new state investments in child support are amplified by a generous federal match, as every $1 of state GPR invested in the Child Support Program generates $2 in federal matching funds.