Published on Monday, May 19, 2008
By Kerry Cavanaugh
The Los Angeles City Council approved a $7 billion budget Monday that restores funding for libraries, sidewalk repair and other favored community services but still cuts hundreds of city jobs and raises fees for parking and trash pickup.
Approval comes after a month in which the council analyzed city spending amid housing and economic downturns that have sapped L.A.'s revenue while expenses - including employee wages, health-care costs and an expanded police force - have increased.
Faced with closing a record $400 million budget shortfall, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the City Council have largely filled the gap by cutting jobs, relying on one-time revenue and raising Angelenos' trash fee by $8 - to $36 a month.
But even though the budget is balanced, it also assumes tax revenues won't fall further, fee increases will be implemented on time and city employee unions will sign off on temporary layoffs
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