For the first time, Clay County has exhausted the annual funding set aside for its employee tuition reimbursement program as participation continues to grow.

Commissioners recently approved transferring an additional $15,000 into the program to continue covering eligible tuition reimbursement requests through the end of 2026.

The tuition reimbursement program is an employee benefit that provides tax-free financial assistance for approved college degree coursework. Regular full-time county employees are eligible after completing at least one year of continuous employment, with funding subject to the county’s annual budget appropriation.

The county originally allocated $60,000 to the program for 2026. According to the request for additional funding, increased use of the benefit — particularly through growing participation in online courses — exhausted that amount at the end of June.

Human Resources Director Kim Callahan explained the county has not encountered that situation in previous year…