King County Executive Ron Sims told a crowd at the Dec. 12 Bellevue Chamber of Commerce luncheon that he met with Barack Obama’s senior staff about a month ago in Chicago to discuss policy ideas.

Sims used his speech to tout the county’s accomplishments with transportation and urban-growth planning, noting that he discussed those same topics during his meeting with the president-elect’s staff.

Sims’ luncheon message strayed from the event billing, which called for a discussion about King County budget cuts and how they could affect local businesses.

Political pundits have speculated that Obama might tap Sims for a federal appointment, possibly in a transportation-related position. The notion has been fueled by reports that the FBI was conducting background checks on the three-term executive.

Sims told The Reporter that the FBI was simply clearing him for the Chicago meeting, and that the get-together with Obama’s staff had nothing to do with a federal appointment.

“It was a policy discussion,” he said. “There were no job offers. One was not offered, and one was not sought.

“They wanted to talk policy. We do a lot of things successfully that are not done elsewhere.”

Sims said most of the discussion in Chicago centered on how to create “viable urban neighborhoods.”

“People don’t realize that we’re pretty cutting-edge in that huge body of work that makes our communities strong,” he told the luncheon audience.

Sims suggested several times during the luncheon that his meeting in Chicago would give King County a privileged status with the president-elect’s administration, saying “we will be on the radar,” and “all that vetting you’re seeing is the vetting of access.”

Among the issues Sims listed as vital to good urban planning were an integrated transportation system, equitable parks for all economic classes, education, and environmental friendliness.

Sims waited until the end of his speech to address the county’s financial woes.

“We do not have a budget that can sustain itself over time,” he said.

The King County Council recently approved a budget that trimmed $93 million from the 2009 general fund. Public health, courts, and law enforcement will take the biggest hits.

More cuts are looming. The county plans to eliminate another $8 million in public-health funding on June 30 if outside financing is not secured by then.

The future doesn’t looking much brighter. Forecasts for 2010 and 2011 predict that $102 million in additional budget cuts will be necessary between those two years.

Several county officials, including the attorney general, sheriff, judges, and county council members, have vowed to pressure the Legislature for some form of help that excludes direct handouts.

One possibility for lawmakers would be to allow more spending flexibility with tax revenues that are reserved for existing services rather than new and enhanced programs.

Joshua Adam Hicks can be reached at jhicks@bellevuereporter.com or 425-453-4290.