Sheriff Fred Thompson says they are the most cost-effective employees he has, with low pay and no benefits.

Now ironically, he says higher-paid full-timers may have to work overtime to keep up.

It all came after a fiery meeting Wednesday with Auditor Joe Pappano and the county commission.

The auditor's message was reportedly that there is not enough money to fund the sheriff's deputies' paychecks next Friday.

"Mr. Pappano had a concern with that, and he wanted to let the commissioners know and the deputies know and try to figure out how to at least pay them through next week," said Deputy Auditor Andy Sutak.

Sheriff Thompson says back when the cuts were first announced, he figured out the layoffs he'd have to institute to make budget.

"Sixty-eight staff members I'd have to lay off, out of eighty-two," says the sheriff.

He says it was the commissioners who urged him to find other ways.

He says they hired a law firm specializing in accounting to work with him in finding altermatives.

"I've been working very closely with the commissioners' retained counsel," Sheriff Thompson said.

What do the commissioners say?

Nothing.

They told 7 News they have a new policy to say nothing to the news media in interviews.

They say they will now speak only when in public session.

Deputy Auditor Andy Sutak says these are bad financial times.

"The problem is everybody's budget has been cut and revenues are kind of down and stagnant," he said.

The sheriff says he has good employees who are bearing a disproportionate part of the county's budget burden.

As for all the public controversy, he says it's counterproductive.

"One elected official shouldn't be micro-managing another," the sheriff concluded.