Saying he will lead by example to contain the cost of government, King County Executive Dow Constantine today froze his salary and those of his appointed leadership, eliminating the group’s cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) and step increases for next year.

As part of his effort to close an estimated $60 million gap in the general fund budget for next year, Constantine also proposed extending an existing countywide hiring freeze by making many current position vacancies permanent.

“I cannot in good conscience send the Council a 2011 budget with drastic cuts to public safety without first leading through example in my office and administration and asking others to do the same,” Constantine said.

In 2009, City of Sammamish employees agreed to cut their wages in line with a fall in the COLA measurement, with the city facing economic pressures.

Constantine also announced he would donate any 2011 increase in his own salary back to the county coffers.

The Executive asked King County’s independently-elected officials including the Prosecutor, Sheriff, County Councilmembers, Assessor, and Elections Director to join him in these cost-containment measures. Salaries for Superior and District Court Judges were frozen in September of 2008 by the Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials.

“I strongly support the proposals and actions that Executive Constantine presented today,” said County Council Chair Bob Ferguson. “We must all do our part to solve this financial problem.”

Constantine said he would urge organized labor to join him in containing costs by forgoing COLA next year, and that he was working with the County Council to adopt labor policies that support this effort.

The Executive Office freeze comes on top of actions Constantine took last fall to reduce the level of salaries and reduce the number of staff.

The County Council is set to vote on new County labor policies at its Committee of the Whole meeting on Wednesday. A new county revenue forecast issued today shows 2010 sales tax revenues down even further than projected.