Mayor's office denies claim that city is building bomb shelter

The sheriff's budget (and the county clerk, too, for that matter) has always had to be approved by another entity. For years, the sheriff's office budget was approved by the Chief Circuit Court Judge (I think, maybe District Court). Then, it shifted over to Fiscal Court. Under Metro government, that responsibility shifted to the Metro Council, and the Sheriff has a line item in the budget. I don't know how much attention they pay now to the details of his budget, they used to go over it with a fine tooth comb, because remember, any money left over at the end of the year (and they are on a calendar, rather than fiscal year) goes straight into the county's coffers. I know they used to dictate how many deputies the sheriff could have, but even if they don't, the sheriff cannot go over budget, if he does, it comes out of his bond, and ultimately, out of his pocket, and they much settle up at the end of the year, the sheriff cannot legally carry over.

What they are required to do is minimal with regards to law enforcement, although they are supposed to patrol roadhouses. (Read the statutes, Chapter 70, I think, most interesting.) But the sheriff's office has a lot of other responsibilities as well.