State and county officials have stepped up their efforts to collect unpaid fines and court fees in order to increase revenue for state and local governments.  The Iowa Judicial Branch has announced two area counties will participate in a new program to combat low state revenues.

State Court Administrator David Boyd says Henry County and Louisa County will be part of a new program that involves a private, third-party collection agency out of Kansas City that will assist in collecting court fines and fees.  He says the law firm is authorized to add 25 percent to the amount owed after a year.

The two counties are part of a group of 30 Iowa counties to implement the program.