All King County employees, with the exception of essential safety and transit staff, will take 10 days unpaid furlough in 2009 under the terms of an historic agreement reached with the King County Union Coalition to help with the unprecedented $93.4 million 2009 budget deficit.

County Executive Ron Sims thanked the coalition for their desire to be part of a budget solution and their recommendation to the rank and file of 15 unions to approve the plan that will save $10.1 million next year.

"This tentative agreement is an act of compassion and strong leadership on the part of the Union Coalition leaders and will be a genuine sacrifice by our employees," said Sims. "Without these furloughs we would be faced with cutting another $10.1 million in essential services resulting in more layoffs."

"I commend Coalition leadership for their flexibility and willingness to sit at the table and consider an option for helping to solve the county's budget deficit during this unprecedented worldwide economic downturn," Sims said.

All union employees will receive a cost-of-living raise of 4.88 percent as required by their union contracts. Non-represented county employees will receive the same 4.88 percent cost-of-living raises as union employees, which is the traditional county practice.

Sims had identified $13 million in cuts in employee costs in his proposed 2009 budget and had been working with unions to negotiate what form those cuts would take. Separately elected leaders will review the proposal and the Metropolitan King County Council will have the final say on the agreement if ratified by the rank and file. King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg expressed his "strong support" said Sims.