County Shortfall Triggers up to 255 Layoff Notices

EmploymentCrossing.com King County Executive Ron Sims, delivered a solemn budget address to the Metropolitan King County Council. He reported that 390 county jobs have been eliminated or will be eliminated by the end of this year. Layoff notices will be sent today to as many as 255 workers in response to a $93 million shortfall in next year's general fund. Those job cuts don't count some court positions or sheriff's deputies, Budget Director Bob Cowan said. Sheriff Sue Rahr said she may have to eliminate 70 jobs — most of them deputies — at the end of the year. Ron Sims, who said continuously on Monday that his plan stems from "unconventional wisdom," wants to temporarily put $10.5 million worth of health and human services in a "lifeboat" until the end of June. In the meantime, he plans to lobby the Legislature for additional funding to support the dozens of services that would otherwise have to be cut. Without help from Olympia, 135 more jobs will be eliminated June 30, according to the county budget office. The County Council will approve a final budget next month.

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Google Video | October 15, 2008

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