Just 1 In 4 City Worker Scofflaws Pay Up

PHILADELPHIA - They were given a choice: pay up, or face the consequences.

But did hundreds of city workers heed the warning and pay the money they owe Philadelphia courts?

Fox 29's Jeff Cole reported the warning was plain and simple: begin paying your debt to the Philadelphia court system within one month, or your paycheck will be garnished.

Well, the deadline has come and gone. Now we want to know, did the courts get their money?

The warning was issued on March 1 by Municipal Court President Judge Marsha Neifield and City Controller Alan Butkovitz. The ultimatum was aimed at 622 city employees who owe the courts more than $1 million in unpaid fines and fees.

Well, according to Philadelphia District Court Administrator David Wasson, only 150 city workers have come forward to either pay their debt or start a payment plan. That's only 24 percent.

And how much money have the courts received? Just $12,000 – roughly $80 bucks from each scofflaw.

As for the rest of the deadbeats, the city will now begin withholding up to 20 percent from their bi-weekly paychecks.

Overall, Philly courts are owed more than $1 billion in unpaid bail, restitution and other court costs.

Some of the collected cash will be used for victim assistance programs.

An administrative assistant to Wasson told us by email that the court didn't necessarily expect scofflaws to pay off their balances immediately. Rather, the goal was to keep people compliant and in play.

As for those city workers who didn't heed the warning and make the deadline, their paychecks are about to become a little lighter.