Inexcusable. Absolutely inexcusable. Yet so predictable. King County faces an astounding $68 million budget deficit for 2009. This despite a straight-faced claim by Executive Ron Sims three years ago that "the era of [county budget] deficits is over."

No other outcome logically could have been expected from liberal spending by a liberal politician, aided and abetted by a predominantly liberal county council, on whose watch the county budget has grown from $2.9 billion in 2001 to $4.8 billion this year -- an astounding 66 percent increase in just seven years.

Now Mr. Sims, who never hesitates to threaten first public safety agencies with draconian cuts whenever a budget crisis looms, is telling the sheriff's and prosecutor's offices and district and superior courts to make up much of the deficit. After all, he notes, they account for 71 percent of the county's general fund expenditures.

The executive's explanation for this budget crisis was predictable as well. He blames voter-approved tax-limitation measures, which were enacted by a public frustrated with big spenders in both local and state government. Never mind that liberal politicians, himself included, ignored these messages and continued down the path of fiscal irresponsibility.

Mr. Sims also turned to Olympia, hat in hand, looking for a state bailout to offset the looming crisis of which he is the chief architect, briefing Gov. Gregoire and leaders of the Democrat-controlled Legislature "on King County's financial challenges." With other counties in the state facing budget problems of their own, he should not expect a sympathetic response from many legislators.

County Councilman Larry Phillips, a Democrat who chairs the 2009 Budget Review and Adoption Committee - and may run for county executive next year - essentially charged Sims with dereliction of duty:

"This should never have happened. This could have been avoided and wasn't. We knew this [revenue shortfall] problem was there but then we were told a couple of years ago that the era of big budget deficits was over ... [I]t wasn't true then and it isn't true now. So now we're in a crisis mode."

Republican Councilwoman Kathy Lambert hit another nail squarely on its head when she said the executive's budget should have spent county resources first on essential programs, rather than squanding funds on his social and global warming initiatives.

If Mr. Sims' budget cutting plan is adopted, King County may lose 75 sheriff's deputies, which would limit investigation of property, identity theft and simple drug crimes; lose 30 deputy prosecutors, which would limit prosecution of property and drug possession crimes; eliminate some probation services and alternative sentencing programs through the courts; and result in the early release of some jail inmates for economic reasons despite public safety concerns. 

Never in ... 29 years [as a police officer] have I had to ask the question, 'Will budget cuts put the safety of our community in jeopardy'?" an unhappy Sheriff Sue Rahr said last week. "Today ... the answer to that question is  yes."

Once again, Mr. Sims' ability to manage Washington's largest county has been weighed in the balances and found wanting. As a primary contributor to the current budget problem, he is incapable of being part of a workable solution.

Clearly, Mr. Sims' failure to recognize that public safety is the number one priority of local government shows, as has been apparent far too long, that he is unfit to hold public office.

Ralph Nichols writes on public policy and legal issues from the Seattle area. He can be reached at ranichols2@yahoo.com.