Los Angeles city officials -- facing an expected $110-million budget shortfall -- on Thursday were urged to act quickly to cut funding to libraries, the Los Angeles Zoo, tree-trimming and crossing guards programs, among other municipal services.
The recommended cutbacks, which will be considered Monday by the City Council's budget committee, are the first in what is expected to be a painful belt-tightening over the coming months. This round would save only $55 million, so additional trims to the city's $7-billion spending plan will be required soon.
Residents "are not going to like" many of the proposed service cuts, said interim City Administrative Officer Raymond P. Ciranna, the city's top budget official. But, he said, options are limited given significant drops in property-based revenues, fluctuating fuel prices and million-dollar lawsuit settlements that have sapped city funds.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who was briefed on the proposed cuts earlier this week, said "immediate and dramatic budget adjustments" are needed to protect what he called core service areas, particularly public safety.
"The revenue picture for the city is grim, and it is nearly certain to get worse before it gets better," Villaraigosa said in a statement.
Among the cuts and money-saving measures being proposed:
* $1.45 million from the $79-million library budget. Ciranna said those cuts might be avoided if the pending sale of surplus library property brings in more money than originally expected.
* $800,000 from the city's tree-trimming program. The Bureau of Street Services is being asked to spread the cuts equally among the 15 council districts.
* $1 million from the crossing guards program -- about one in five crossing guards employed by the Department of Transportation.
* $650,000 from the program to install more left-turn arrow signals at city intersections. The city had planned to install 113 signals this budget year; it's unclear how many installations would be postponed.
* A freeze on new hires at the city attorney's office and city controller's office, with limited exceptions.
* $1.92 million from the Los Angeles Police Department program to replace older squad cars. The city had budgeted $4.3 million to replace 118 vehicles; 53 of those replacements would be delayed.
* Transferring $1.14 million from a Los Angeles Zoo trust fund to the city general fund for general city expenses. A portion of that money had been set aside for the golden monkey exhibit, but has been unspent because of a delay in acquisition.
