By Quinn O’Hara

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office has run under budget for a 3rd straight year.

Sheriff Alan Benninga says the Office was under budget by a significant amount:

Sheriff Benninga says this is thanks to cutting unnecessary employee hours and purchases. He says the leftover funds are put aside and saved for future projects, like upgrading radio systems, or unexpected expenses:

Benninga says he feels responsible for the taxpayer money that makes up the Clay County Sheriff’s Office budget, and treats the funds as if it were his own money he is spending.