Mayor announces new LA budget
The budget includes major cuts and aims to minimize layoffs. It could potentially eliminate furloughs for all civilian employees. It includes funding for new parks and recreational facilities, street resurfacing, pothole repairs, graffiti removal, and extended library hours.
The budget cuts 11 percent of funding from the mayor’s budget and 10 percent from the city council budget.
"This budget charts a course, it gives a path to stabilize our city’s revenues and expenditures in the midst of a financial crisis,” said Mayor Villaraigosa.
The proposed budget includes a $54 million cut from the fire department and a $100 million cut from the police department. Police Chief Charlie Beck says this is a long-term solution that won’t hurt public safety as much as a short-term solution like layoffs and furloughs.
“It maintains the size of the police department,” said Chief Beck, “and allows this city which has classically been underpoliced, it allows this city to have the right- sized police department to deal with its needs.”
The L.A. city unions have until Tuesday to ratify the budget, which would eliminate furlough days under the condition that employees defer pay raises and contribute 4 percent more of their salaries for retiree health benefits.
If the unions do not ratify the agreement, the budget will include anywhere between 26 and 36 furlough days.
