Video: King County to slash jobs to meet budget

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SEATTLE – King County Executive Ron Sims has announced he will cut hundreds of county jobs as he tries to fill a $90 million budget hole, but critics have issues with Sims’ results.

"The uncomfortable truth is King County is at its crossroads," said Sims.

The executive will cut 400 county jobs, including:

-- 46 in public health

-- 32 in the environment

-- 40 in the justice system

-- 11 in the sheriff’s office

"The county has no choice but to look to our workforce to help shoulder the burden of our deficit problem," said Sims.

Sims will also use $10 million in county reserves for a six month supplemental budget to rescue urgent programs. He calls this budget the lifeboat.

"That the state legislature will rescue that lifeboat and the really critical programs that are sitting in that lifeboat, frankly, facing a tidal wave that is coming fast," said King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson.

County council members and department heads were quick to pounce.

"We expected to hear specific options and details for closing that gap. I did not hear it. I don’t think anyone did," said councilmember Larry Phillips.

They say it’s not a balanced budget because it counts on county union workers, who have labor contracts, to agree to pay cuts.

"We need strong leadership to make a decision about what the priorities are for King County government. It sounds to me like that has all been put off,” said Sheriff Sue Rahr.

Sims says the budget will balance because the unions will agree to concessions.

"The budget is balanced. I cannot send over an unbalanced budget and we did not send over an unbalanced budget," said Sims.

The layoff talk has left an uneasy feeling among county workers.

"I'm concerned. I was just hired three months ago so I might be the first to go. I'd say a lot of people are not saying much, but they're concerned,” said Leann Martinez, a King County Public Health worker.

The first pink slips will go out on Tuesday and layoffs will happen on January 1.