Sims plans 10 days of county shutdowns to save money

King County government would shut down for 10 days next year, under a tentative, money-saving agreement King County Executive Ron Sims announced this afternoon.

Sims said he was confident that members of 15 county-employee unions would ratify the deal, under which workers would not be paid for their furlough. If employees don't agree, he said he would, "without question," use his authority to order them to take the time off.

The shutdown would not affect sheriff's patrols, jail operations, Metro transit service or wastewater treatment. The closures would be spread out during the year, with the first scheduled for Jan. 2.

Sims and county labor leaders reached the agreement this morning. The furlough — which would apply to non-union workers along with 7,000 union employees — is expected to save $15 million and prevent deeper program cuts in the face of a $93 million general-fund shortfall.

"We've never used this tool, we've just never used it," Sims said.

Five of the Metropolitan King County Council's nine members issued a statement praising the King County Coalition of Unions for agreeing to the furlough, and saying the council would close its doors to save the county another $450,000.

Keith Ervin: 206-464-2105 or kervin@seattletimes.com