(a) The Director of Finance is authorized to enter into a contract or contracts for professional non-legal services necessary to collect any or all of the following:
(1) Statutory fees as assessed by the City;
(2) Civil and domestic court costs;
(3) Criminal court costs so long as the defendant is not incarcerated on the date the debt is certified;
(4) Municipal taxes;
(5) EMS debts;
(6) property damage; and
(7) parking tickets.
(b) Any collection contract entered into under the authority of this section may include in its scope the collection of any or all receivables of the City of Cleveland whether or not expressly listed in division (a). The types of receivables listed in division (a) are illustrative only and shall not limit the scope of collection work that may be included in the contract.
(c) In any case in which it is not already provided that the debtor is liable for the costs of collection under any provision of the Codified Ordinances or state law, or any rule of court or judgment entry, the debtor may be assessed a fee in an amount equal to the costs paid by the City to any consultant for the costs of collection of the debt.
(d) The cost of each contract authorized by this section shall be paid from any proper appropriation accounts including any fund to which are credited the following fees, which are appropriated for this purpose:
(1) The fee established under division (c) of this section; and
(2) Any other fee established by the Codified Ordinances or state law, or rule of court or judgment entry that imposes upon a debtor the cost of collecting a receivable of the City.
(Ord. No. 1012-2022. Passed 10-17-22, eff. 10-20-22)