WAYNESBORO, Ga () – Burke County Sheriff Alfonso Williams is asking for a court order to allow him to have control over his department’s budget.

The order which his attorneys say would guarantee public officials carry out their duties required by law.

Shawn McCullers, Attorney with The Ifill Law Group. says control over the department’s budget is a key issue in making Burke County safer.

“They’re trying to require that not only you get the initial budget approval but subsequently that he has to come to them for “approval” of different section of those funds that were already allocated to him. It’s not that they’re saying ‘we don’t have the money to give you sheriff’ it’s ‘well no sheriff we’re not giving you the money, you go find it within the budget that you already have’,” said McCullers.

The sheriff’s office is in jeopardy of losing the funding for their body cameras along with other essential services despite yearly budget increases.

Another attorney for the sheriff says that while there has been increases in the budget, it is still not enough.

“The Sheriff’s Office, based off data that’s compiled throughout the year, presents to the board of commissioners what their needs are, and then it’s up to the board of commission to properly and reasonably find the Sheriff’s office, they haven’t done that. There’s been a deficit year in and year out because there has not been proper allocation to the sheriff’s office,” said Pierre Ifill, Attorney with The Ifill Law Group.

Alfonzo Williams, Burke County Sheriff voiced his concerns over the issue.

“As our lawyers have stated, the law is very clear. Once you pass what we consider a reasonable budget for the Sheriff, you cannot tell the Sheriff how to spend a single dime, not a single dime,” Williams said.

Burke County Commissioner, Evans Martin, gave us a statement saying, “The commission believes he is adequately funded and we expect him to stay within budget. It is unfortunate that the tax payers of Burke County have to endure the burden of him suing the Commissioner’s and the citizens.”

All Burke County judges and District Attorney Jared Williams have removed themselves from the case. The Sheriff’s Office is now waiting for a judge in a neighboring county to hear their case.