Snohomish County considers furloughs to close $21 million budget deficit

The Snohomish County Council plans to ask employees to take voluntary 10-day furloughs next year to help close a $21 million budget deficit, but union leaders and some elected officials say that won't happen without negotiated labor agreements.

Without an agreement about furloughs, the county will likely have to lay off more than the projected 160 positions it plans to cut in 2009.

"A furlough is a great idea, but without a labor agreement, it's not going to work," said County Auditor Carolyn Weikel.

Executive Aaron Reardon blamed the County Council for not directing him to open negotiations on mandatory furloughs. But Council Chairman Dave Somers said it's Reardon's responsibility, under the county charter, to initiate discussions with the unions.

On Oct. 16, Somers sent Reardon a memo requesting that the executive "enter into immediate discussions" with leadership of the county's labor unions to explore ways to reduce employee costs and save jobs.

Included in Somer's list of possible cost-saving measures was asking some employees to take 10-day leaves without pay.

Earlier this week, Reardon said the county was in labor negotiations until Nov. 12 and it wasn't appropriate to discuss furloughs. Now that contracts have been signed, he said, he is waiting for the council to finalize the budget.

"There has been no direction from the council," Reardon said.

King County Executive Ron Sims opened negotiations with that county's union leadership and reached an agreement calling for mandatory 10-day furloughs for all but essential employees. King County union employees are voting on the proposal, said Carolyn Duncan, spokeswoman for Sims.

Roger Moller, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees local that represents 400 Snohomish County employees, said the union has had conversations with the county, but until a budget is adopted and the number of layoffs finalized, "we can't have constructive talks about furloughs."

He criticized the County Council for not involving the unions in budget discussions, or sharing with them the suggestions received from employees about ways to save money and jobs.

He noted the tensions between the executive and the council and said, "There's a power struggle going on and it's not doing anybody any good."

The County Council last week voted to not raise property taxes for 2009, citing the recession and widespread layoffs.

The council is scheduled to adopt the 2009 budget Monday.

The budget assumes a slight economic recovery late in 2009, which Councilman John Koster warned may not occur.

"If this economy doesn't improve we'll have to go deeper. It's not pretty," he said.

Lynn Thompson: 206-464-8305 or lthompson@seattletimes.com