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County staff's raises raise another stink

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By MIKE SALINERO

msalinero@tampatrib.com

Published: June 19, 2009

TAMPA - Pay raises given to top Hillsborough County officials late last year resurfaced as a hot-button issue Thursday at a commission budget workshop, spurring a dust-up between Commissioners Rose Ferlita and Kevin Beckner.

A week ago, commissioners chided County Administrator Pat Bean for giving raises of 7 percent to 17 percent to six of her top lieutenants at a time of county layoffs and pay cuts. Thursday, Beckner raised the issue again, saying he could barely contain his "anger and outrage" over the raises.

"This was a slap in the face and an insult to all the county employees who have been asked to do more with less," he said.

Beckner drew Ferlita's ire by suggesting the rest of the commission would rather not discuss the issue at a public meeting. He went further, saying fellow board members probably were "praying and wishing" the issue would go away.

Beckner made a motion that an analysis of executive pay raises be made by the commission's internal performance auditor or the clerk of the circuit court.

When Beckner finished, Ferlita stopped proceedings to check a transcript of his comments. She then lectured Beckner for "grandstanding" and using his peers as a prop. At one point she called Beckner, who is in his late 30s, "young man."

"It sounds like an inappropriate posture," she said. "It is an affront to what I think of as good government."

Beckner said he had not meant to insult anyone.

Ferlita smiled and shook her head.

The commission, including Ferlita, supported Beckner's motion 7-0.

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