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Report: Layoffs To Ease Drop In LA Revenues

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The city of Los Angeles faces a mounting tide of red ink, but officials say it's due to administrative delays rather than a drop in revenues.

According to a new report released on Monday, the city opened up a $63.7 million budget deficit in the first quarter of this fiscal year over delays to implementing cost-cutting measures, including layoffs.

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"Despite the austerity measures implemented by the city in 2009-2010, and the roadmap the city has adopted to achieve financial sustainability, over-expenditures are resulting in a preliminary deficit projection of $63.7 million for this fiscal year," City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana said in his financial status report.

"This deficit is attributed to the projected expenditures for civilian salary accounts, sworn (firefighters and police officers) overtime accounts, and department expense accounts based on current trends," he added.

New data shows the city is $11.3 million in the red when it comes to overtime salaries for firefighters, while the same shortfall for police officers is $3.8 million. The city is also in a $13.8 million hole in terms of "other salary costs."

Another chart showed those with the largest deficits overall are the Police Department ($15 million), Fire Department ($13 million), General Services Department ($12 million), and City Attorney's Office, $11 million.

Santana said that,"as a last resort," about half of the shortfall could be eliminated by making a withdrawal from the "unappropriated balance," an account containing money that had yet to be set aside for specific expenses.

He added the remaining gap should be closed by the departments that are in a financial hole, and urged them to submit belt-tightening plans within a month.

The city already has shed about 4,000 jobs in the last few years, through early retirement, layoffs and transfers to proprietary departments that do not rely on the city's general fund.
Santana said revenues have been tracking close to projections, but added that may not continue.

"With the slowdown in the economic recovery — exhibited by the double-digit unemployment rate, flat retail sales and declines in home sales and median prices — anticipated revenue from some economy sensitive revenues may not be fully realized," he said in the report.

Santana said the projected budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year is $318 million — $143 million of which represents pension costs.

(©2010 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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