Despite a sluggish economy that is slowing tax revenues, officials in Los Angeles county and city governments Monday proposed budgets that call for substantial increases in public safety.
City officials are planning to raise fees, cut services and impose employee furloughs to help pay for the added officers, while the county is holding off on major reductions but warning that falling home values and state and federal aid cutbacks will probably force painful belt-tightening later.
The county unveiled a $21.9-billion budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 that is down $588 million, or 2.6%, from the current year's budget. The city's $7-billion proposal reflects a $193-million increase.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's proposed city budget seeks to eliminate a $406-million shortfall through austerity measures that include the elimination of 767 jobs -- some possibly layoffs -- and $90 million in fee increases on golf, pet adoptions and other city services.
County Chief Executive Officer William T. Fujioka, acknowledging that the county's hardest decisions will come later, said that for now he is proposing delaying maintenance of county facilities and equipment as well as eliminating 35 vacant positions -- but no layoffs -- to help trim the budget. He is not proposing any significant fee hikes or service reductions yet.
"This county, from my perspective, is in very, very good shape," Fujioka said. "We will live within our means."
Still left undone, however, is a plan to close a $197-million deficit in its budget for health services next year, and an estimated $500 million in diminished state and federal funding has yet to be factored in to Fujioka's proposal.
In a sign of measures to come, Fujioka has directed his staff to consider a modest property tax increase under the voter-mandated Measure B to fund county trauma centers. That step might raise up to $40 million a year.
To boost public safety, the county is proposing to add 31 deputy sheriffs in unincorporated areas, 22 positions in an anti-gang program, and refurbish some jails and build a fire station in the Santa Clarita Valley.
The winners in the proposed county budget are worried that the state and federal budget problems will cause their victories to evaporate.
"That's my biggest fear," said Sheriff Lee Baca, whose budget under the Fujioka proposal would grow $81 million to $2.46 billion, including $10 million to improve healthcare for inmates in county jails and $5.6 million for increased patrols in unincorporated areas.
