COLUMBUS — Three statewide Democratic candidates said Wednesday that Republican leaders are overpaying Bank One millions in tax dollars to run a child-support system that doesn't work.

        Gubernatorial candidate Tim Hagan, state treasurer candidate Mary Boyle and attorney general candidate Leigh Herington spoke with reporters about an unbid $25.2 million contract lawmakers gave Bank One Monday to collect and distribute support checks for the next six months.

        That means Ohio has paid Bank One $115 million since December 1999.

        In contrast, Pennsylvania has paid $60 million and New York has paid $48 million over the same time for the same services.

        Thousands of Ohio families are still waiting for money kept from them when the state and Bank One created the new system. In Hamilton County alone, 48,000 child-support cases will be reviewed to see if they are owed some of the $38 million in support payments illegally withheld from 1997 through 2000.

        A spokesman for the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services said the department will re- bid the contract. The reason Ohio awarded a third unbid contract to Bank One is it needs more time to prepare and review bids.

        “We have questions about costs, too,” said department spokesman Jon Allen. “It'd be nice if it could be done overnight, but it takes some time.”

        Bids for a new seven-year child-support distribution contract are due May 14.

        Jeff Lyttle, a Bank One spokesman, defended the bank's costs compared to what other states pay for the same job.

        “Based on the needs of the state of Ohio, we are charging what we believe is a fair rate.”

        Mr. Lyttle also didn't agree with Mr. Hagan's statements about it solely supporting GOP candidates. “Bank One's PAC supports all candidates that support banking,” he said.

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