The Los Angeles City Council is slated to vote Monday on a budget proposal to lay off 761 city employees and subject thousands more to furloughs on July 1 if their unions refuse pay cuts and other concessions to reduce a $485 million budget deficit.
"The concessions that we would ask for would be equal to the 761 layoffs," City Council President Eric Garcetti said on Friday. "I think the number is $57 million."
Garcetti expressed confidence that the gap can be bridged, noting the city and the unions collaborated several months ago on an early retirement incentive program that helped take 2,400 workers off the payroll.
"They made concessions in additional pension payments and other things to pay for that, so we have a decent track record, but this (layoff plan) guarantees that if can't come to some sort of agreement, we aren't just left hanging out there," said Garcetti. "People want to be able to count real money and have protection if the money isn't in place."
Additional positions -- potentially up to 1,000 -- would be eliminated on Oct. 1 if projected revenues from a plans to lease city-owned parking garages; impose fines on banks that fail to maintain foreclosed properties; and collect additional documentary transfer taxes fails to add up to $64 million, said Garcetti.
The council's Budget and Finance Committee on Tuesday recommended eliminating 1,761 positions. By Friday, however, several council members agreed to proceed with just 761 layoffs on July 1 if the unions do not make concessions, and eliminate additional positions on Oct. 1 only if projected revenues fall short.
Under the budget proposal, 761 layoffs would result in the closure of the Northeast Valley Animal Shelter, as well as several childcare centers whose operations are heavily subsidized with city funds.
It would also result in libraries being open only five days a week instead of six, and delays in pothole repairs and tree-trimming.
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Funding for adult day care centers, gang intervention programs, cultural affairs events, and parks and recreation activities will also be reduced.
The Police Department will continue to hire officers to replace those who resign or retire. However, it will drastically reduce overtime which may delay murder investigations.
The Fire Department will maintain a hiring freeze and continue to keep several fire trucks and ambulances out of service, potentially slowing emergency response.
Not all council members believe staff reductions are necessary.
Councilman Herb Wesson on Friday submitted a spending plan that restores services and eliminates layoffs and furloughs by adopting revenue-generating measures proposed by the Coalition of Los Angeles City Unions.
"Trust me, if somebody calls you and says, 'I got a wild dog running around,' what are you going to say? 'I'll get it on Friday.' People are going to want you to deliver those services right then," said Wesson.
City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana has said some of the coalition's revenue projections may be unrealistic.
