OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The Thurston County sheriff said county commissioners are putting new paint and carpet ahead of keeping people safe.

Thurston County deputies are upset and worried Thursday because the sheriff said he may have to cut 10 more deputies because county commissioners are unwilling to consider his proposal to close a $900,000 budget gap without laying off any deputies.

"My concern is they're more interested in paint and carpet than they are in public safety," said Thurston County Sheriff Dan Kimball.

Kimball said commissioners are requiring him to contribute more than $200,000 for the county's building maintenance fund, money he said should be used to keep deputies on the street.

"These are huge safety issues," Kimball said.

County Commissioner Karen Valenzuela said she thinks the sheriff can eliminate his budget problems not by cutting deputies, but by cutting five managers like the commissioners ordered him to do more than six months ago.

"He was never open to looking at any cuts to his command staff," Valenzuela said.

She said if he would do that, “Then all the other costs fall in line."

Kimball is challenging that order in court.

Deputies said they’re worried about public safety and their own futures.

“I'm beyond anger. Now I'm just frustrated and disgusted with the shenanigans that are going on with the county commissioners and this entire budget mess," said Deputy Kyle Kempke.

Kimball said if he and the commissioners can't make any progress, he will issue layoff notices for 10 deputies by the end of November.