Commissioners approve MOU to join TREX tax-intercept pilot, pending treasurer review

Hancock County Commissioners on July 7 voted to approve a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Association of Indiana Counties’ TREX tax-refund interception and compliance system as a pilot to help collect unpaid probation user fees.

Gail (speaker 6), who presented the MOU, said the system lets the state intercept a delinquent individual’s state income tax refund to satisfy unpaid probation user fees and that other counties have used the program successfully. She said the system typically prompts a demand letter first and that many offenders then pay rather than have a refund intercepted.

Commissioner (speaker 3) moved to approve the MOU dated 07/07/2026, with the caveat that the president sign only after the county verifies there is no existing agreement and after clarifications requested by the treasurer. The motion carried by voice vote.

Several commissioners asked that the treasurer verify whether the county already has an agreement with TREX; the treasurer (referenced in the discussion) asked for time to research and said she was not yet sure she would be comfortable being the collection agent. Gail said her office had checked and was told no treasurer agreement exists, but she agreed to confirm in writing before the final signature.

The board asked that the presenter follow up by email with the treasurer and return the fully clarified MOU for the president’s signature. The commission recorded the action as approval with the administrative caveat that the president would sign only after the treasurer’s confirmation and required clarifications.