I am from Mercer County NJ and have been working for a state run Daycare Center for 9 years now. When I first started working there I was a single mother with 2 young children who attended the Daycare Center. After 2 years of working there I had gotten married and had 3 more children, which also attended the Daycare Center. All 5 children were enrolled in a state program which reduced the cost of attending the Daycare center. Recently I had requested a reduction in hours with my married name. They informed me that I had not notified them that I was married and that and that I owe the state of NJ $85,000.00 (I do not know how they arrived at this number) for giving me special rates for my children to attend the Daycare Center as a single mother. I have been informed that the state wants to be paid in full within 12 months. My husband is a sheet metal worker, so he works sporadically and is currently unemployed and there is no way that we would be able to pay this. I also believe that even though I'm married I am still eligible for the same program with less aid. My question is: Am I liable to pay the entire $85,000.00 and Do you have any advice as to how I can handle this matter as far as negotiating a reduction if I do owe this? And if I can negotiate a longer payout time?