KING COUNTY, Wash. -- The economy has brought pink slips and budget cuts to the county.

Four hundred county workers are set to lose their jobs, but King County Executive Ron Sims has a plan to try to save some of them.

Sims says the seismic events of the nation's financial crisis tossed the county's budget into turmoil, and now is the time to deal with the fallout.

"Critical county services are on life support," Sims said. "As part of this budget proposal, I have the very sad duty of eliminating nearly 400 positions."

But in what Sims calls a "bold move," he wants to create a temporary, 6-month budget to fully fund certain public safety and public health programs. He calls it a "lifeboat" measure.

"This strategy allows the county to provide these services for the first half of 2009 while we all work with the governor and legislative leadership to craft a solution," he said.

But many are skeptical of how much lawmakers in Olympia can help during such dire economic times, and if this "lifeboat" approach is the right move.

County council members say they're even confused about whether Sims has actually presented them a balanced budget proposal.

"We are going to have to start, apparently, somewhat from scratch given the fact there are $90 to $93 million in cuts and we all don't have a program we have confidence in starting Jan. 1," said council member Larry Phillips.

Another huge hurdle: Sims wants unions to take a smaller cost of living increase next year to save millions. King County Sheriff Sue Rahr, who is looking at laying off dozens of deputies and other employees, says strong leadership is missing.

"We're waiting for Olympia to bail us out. We're waiting for another six months. We're waiting for the unions to make concessions that they have no obligations to make," she said.

King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg has cut 27 positions, including 20 attorneys with his staff now focusing less on lesser crimes.

"We had a very good system in place up until now. But business has to change. Our priorities have to change. Our belts to have to get tighter and tighter. It's real and it's happening now," he said.

"To be honest, I'm not sure I'm at all clear where we are on a balanced budget," said Phillips. "Are we $10 million out of whack? $15 million out of whack?"

The King County budget is roughly $5 billion altogether. The council will now take its own stab at the budget and hopes to have it drafted by Thanksgiving.

Sims says layoff notices will be issued on Tuesday.