The County commission rallied around its county administrator today when it was suggested there have been an inordinate amount of pay raises for county workers during the past two years.

The complaints were leveled by Citrus County Council President Theodora Rusnak and Lecanto resident Christopher Lloyd.

Rusnak and Lloyd told commissioners that one-half to one-third of the county’s staff have qualified for salary increases. That equates, Rusnak and Lloyd said, to 275 people. Rusnak asked how that could be in this, the “leanest of times.” She also detailed her private-sector experience, and she and Lloyd appealed to the commission for a time-certain appearance before the commission to give the county a report on recommendations from which the county could benefit.

County Administrator Brad Thorpe replied to commissioners that he was doing his best to bring down the county’s budget, and that some of his reorganization efforts did mean higher salaries in some instances, but that the county was actually saving money in the long run. “The overall reduction is significant,” Thorpe told commissioners. “We’ve been doing this for two years. I hope you have confidence in me.”

Thorpe said the county does have written procedures for reducing the workforce, and that it is contained in the county’s employee manual. That procedure, Thorpe said, is a contract between the county and its employees.

Speaking to Thorpe, County Commissioner Winn Webb commented, “They’re seeing the trees and you’re seeing the forest.” Webb said that reorganization is Thorpe’s job, and that Thorpe had his confidence.

Commissioner Joe Meek agreed, and said that there was no need of “micro-managing the specifics.”

Assistant County Administrator Eber Brown agreed with Thorpe, and said that both he and Thorpe have done all they could to keep the workforce as relevant as possible. “I take a little bit of exception (to the charges),” Brown said. “Every decision has been scrutinized, and like Brad (Thorpe) said, this hasn’t been done in a vacuum. We’ve agonized over these cuts -- sometimes for months.”

Brown complimented the staff for putting out extra effort in the face of possible further cuts, and have stepped up to absorb the responsibilities of those staff members who have lost their jobs.

Commission Chairman Gary Bartell said that making those kinds of decisions is why the county hired Thorpe. “I’m going to put an end to this discussion,” Bartell said. “Trying to apply the private sector to the public sector will never happen. I’ve been there. I’ve done that. I know what that is,” Bartell said.

With discussion closed, the commission passed out service awards of recognition to its employees.