I'm not saying it's a bad idea. I'm not saying it's a good idea, either.

But it's an idea. And maybe it's worth a try, since York County's Clerk of Courts department hasn't been able to put a dent in more than $58 million worth of overdue fees, costs and restitution, the result of cases in the York County courts going back as many as 20 years.

Instead of wasting tons of time and effort trying to collect debts owed to York County government, York County commissioners decided by a 2-1 vote last week to hire Pittsburgh-based Credit Management Co. -- basically a debt collection agency -- to do the job.

The debt collector will add up to a 25 percent surcharge to each bill to satisfy its own fee. Most, if not all, of the money collected would find its way into York County coffers.

So as long as it's not really going to cost York County taxpayers much (if anything), then why not give it a try. Every little bit helps when you're trying to run a government.

Besides, this money is owed to the county. And it should be paid. It sends a horrible message to those who pass through the court system if it becomes known that York County is only going to make a half-hearted effort to collect fines, fees and restitution before giving up.

Plus, these dollars actually belong to county taxpayers. When they're collected, our tax burden should be smaller. If they're not collected, we are expected to pay through the nose. So logic suggests every dime of it should be collected.

But

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I would like to know why we must go outside the county nearly every time we award a contract for services? This debt collector is from Pittsburgh. You mean to tell me there are no debt collectors in York County who would love to get their hands on a $58 million contract?

The county does this all the time. Need a lawyer? Hire one from outside York County. Need a study done? Give the job to a company from outside York County. Need a salary/wage evaluation? Pay someone from outside York County to do it, rather than expect the job to be done by your own human resources department.

OK, now that I've gotten that out of my system, I'll say again that I'm all for collecting this delinquent debt.

But it's probably wishful thinking by all of us.

I suspect those who will pay are already paying or have already paid off their debt.

The rest? Well, I have my doubts that anyone who owes the county money -- especially those who have been notified dozens upon dozens of times about the debt over 10, 12, 15, 20 years -- is going to get too hot and bothered about one or two more letters from a collection agency.

In fact, I'd be surprised if most of the dunning letters would even be opened before being tossed in the circular file.

Deadbeats are deadbeats. Either they don't have the money to pay, or they have the money but just refuse to pay. If they were going to pay, they'd have paid years ago with only a minimum of prodding. But they didn't pay then, and they have no intentions of paying now unless forced to do so.

But most of these deadbeats don't own property. So nothing to attach. A lot of them won't even have jobs. Many of them don't live around these parts anymore. So what can you hold over their heads to get them to pay? Another hit on their credit reports? They couldn't care less. A lower credit rating? Again, so what? A damaged reputation? Yeah, right.

Debtor prisons might work, but they were outlawed ages ago.

About the only thing that would put the fear of God in them -- being picked up on a bench warrant for failure to pay the money they owe and spending a few days in jail -- has not worked, either, because they obviously haven't been picked up.

In other words, it'll be the same old, same old.

Remember what Grandma used to say -- there's no getting blood out of a turnip.

It can't be done.

Columns by Larry A. Hicks, Dispatch columnist, run Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. E-mail: lhicks@yorkdispatch.com.