$107 MILLION IN OVERTIME. UDINE WANTS ANSWERS FROM BROWARD'S SHERIFF.
Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony says he needs more money to pay his deputies.
Commissioner Michael Udine wants to know where the money is going.
And after looking at BSO's payroll, it's a fair question.
According to payroll records reviewed by the abrasive government watchdog Chaz Stevens, BSO spent approximately $107 million on overtime in 2025.
One detention sergeant collected $457,309, including roughly $310,000 in overtime. Another earned over $400,000. Several others topped $350,000.
That's a lot of overtime.
A WAR TONY STARTED
Last September, I wrote about Tony's political war against Broward's municipal commissioners.
At the time, Tony made it clear last year that he was willing to take these fights into the voting booth. He was threatening to support challengers against elected officials who refused his contract demands.
Now municipal officials are accusing him of doing just that.
One incumbent has recently gone on a local youtube program and accused the sheriff of meddling in local elections and helping finance various mailers. He shouldn't be surprised when those same politicians and their allies start looking for ways to cut him down to size.
UDINE IS DOING HIS JOB
Tony sought approximately $937 million in county funding. Commissioners approved roughly $885 million.
Then Tony suspended discretionary budget negotiations, citing a state investigation involving county officials.
Meanwhile, Udine has been publicly challenging BSO's spending, demanding answers and pushing for greater transparency.
Good for him.
Nobody's suggesting deputies shouldn't be paid competitively. But taxpayers deserve to know whether the sheriff is managing his nearly $900 million county appropriation efficiently.
Tony says a salary study supports his funding requests.
Fine. But a salary study doesn't explain $107 million in overtime.
Tony spent last year picking fights with city commissioners. Now county commissioners are questioning his spending, stripping away responsibilities and demanding answers.
The political chickens are coming home to roost.
And Michael Udine is asking the right questions.