City Council Approves $7.01 Billion Budget

And that approval came at a price. Last night's budget compromise included 800 more employee layoffs--400 were approved earlier this month--26 furlough days for many city employees, no new left turn signals or sidewalk repairs, reduced hours at city libraries and swimming pools and a slower plan to hire 1,000 new officers, albeit probably not by the end of the year as desired by Mayor Villaraigosa and Chief Bratton. Interestingly enough, the plan to lease parking meters and parking garages like Chicago did not make the cut, or at least until the council gets a more detailed study on the proposal. Mayor Villaraigosa has two weeks to review the budget.