How the Mayor Plans to Avoid 2,800 City Worker Layoffs

"The need for shared responsibility and shared sacrifice isn't just rhetoric, it's reality,'' Villaraigosa said today about his $7.04 billion budget for the next fiscal year. Today's proposed budget, which is 1% less than last year's, should eliminate the $530 million deficit the city could incur.

One of Villaraigosa's biggest initiatives is avoiding laying off 2,800 city workers, but that comes with a menu of options such as deferring automatic raises--that would save 1331 jobs) and getting paid for one less hour a week, saving 580 jobs. At his new Keep LA Working website, employees can play with their pay and see how it affects the targeted workforce. Villaraigosa has vowed to cut his own $223,000 salary by 12 percent.

However, there is no final word on this. Employee unions are coming together to find ways to save money and city council will tirelessly debate the budget in May.