KING COUNTY, Wash. -- Money troubles could trigger a health care crisis for people who can least afford it. Public Health of Seattle & King County is in danger of losing $10 million.

County leaders said a $68-million budget shortfall may force them to close public health centers that serve more than 54,000 uninsured residents.

King County Executive Ron Sims will submit the final budget proposal in October, but public health officials are warning about a possible health care crises months in advance.

"We're not talking about government's inability to add another pocket park or add another bus route or a street sweeper," said county council member Julia Patterson. "What we're talking about are services that in some cases mean the difference between whether someone lives or dies."

Patterson said the county's general fund pays for prenatal care in public health clinics, dental care, communicable disease programs that prevent the outbreak of tuberculosis.

But a $10-million cut to the public health budget could mean some public health centers will have to close. The result, according to county board of health member Dr. Bud Nicola, would be "a sicker population, more expensive care and the spread of communicable disease."

The cut would hurt Charles Joiner, who said his sons need the public health center for dental care.

"Every six months my kids come to the dentist," he said. "I can't afford to pay for some of the high cost of the health care stuff that's going on right now."

Patterson said the county cannot pay for the care either, because the Legislature repealed a motor vehicle excise tax that supported public health nine years ago.

"We need a dedicated stable source of funding for public health. Olympia - the state of Washington - needs to give us that," she said.