Osceola clerk of court fires back, says excess funds will be turned over to county

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — The Osceola County clerk of court is firing back one day after county commissioners accused him of failing to hand over more than $200,000.

Excess money collected from fees throughout the year can range between $100,000 and $300,000, money the Clerk's Office is supposed to give back to the county.

Every year, the clerk's office returns excess fees to the county, but County Commissioner Fred Hawkins said Monday that the money is usually delivered by the end of September and they still haven't gotten it.

However, County Clerk Armando Ramirez provided receipts showing the previous clerk turned over the money in late October.

"The money is in the general operating funds and before the end of October, according to the practice of this office, we will send the money to them," said Ramirez.

Ramirez said under the previous clerk, the earliest the payment to the county was Oct. 22.

His spokesman said the clerk has every intention of handing over the money, about $200,000, by Oct. 31.

WFTV