Pinellas County Sheriff Jim Coats, irked that EMS employees are receiving raises when deputies don't, riled the county offices with a missive Wednesday asking the County Commission to pony up salary increases for his deputies this month.

From his letter: 

"We recognize the need to do our part and contribute to budget reduction requirements, which is evident by our elimination of 561 positions and a reduction of $88 million from our General Fund budget since FY 2008. However, everyone needs to be treated equally and reaching into 'savings' to fund a wage increase for some and not others is inequitable. Reserves are controlled by Board policy and all public safety personnel need to be treated equally. We hope you will give this issue due consideration as you begin FY 11 budget hearings on September 7, 2010."

But County Commission Calvin Harris discounted the idea, saying Coats' budget is a "different situation" and noting the constraint on the county under an EMS agreement.

"He gets his pot of money, which is roughly half of the budget," said Harris, suggesting the sheriff can decided how to divvy out the allotment.

David DeCamp, Times staff writer

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