The city of Casper is writing off $216,000 of "uncollectible debts" stretching back more than 20 years.

State law allows cities to write uncollectible money off its books with city council approval.

A large portion of the debts, according to a memo from the city's finance directors to city manager Tom Forslund, stems from when the city's record keeping was done on paper instead of on computers.

The debt dates back to 1988 and some of the more current debts are owed by people who have either died or have been sent to jail for a long time.

"The city of Casper and its collection agency [has] exhausted all efforts to collect the attached accounts with the collection agency and has deemed this debt uncollectible," the memo read.

Linda Carlson, business services supervisor for the city's finance division, said this could become a regular occurrence.

"The thing we want to be able to do is look at it on a quarterly basis and hopefully present something to [the city] council on an annual basis," Carlson said. "Then you're discharging smaller amounts rather than a lump sum."

About half of all the money owed is from debts dating back to the mid 1990s.

You can reach city reporter Pete Nickeas at pete.nickeas@trib.com or (307) 266-0639. You can read more about Casper politics and government at http://tribtown.trib.com/redtape.