The Los Angeles City Council is considering a plan to cut many critical city services down to a "four days a week" program in an attempt to deal with the $40 million budget deficit, according to the Daily News. While many plans have been carefully weighed over the past few months to sort out L.A.'s budget crisis, this plan cuts the deepest and would have the most significant impact on the daily lives of Angelenos. more ›

As the debate swirls around Miguel Santana's quest to cut L.A.'s graffiti removal budget in half to balance the city's budget, the Chatsworth Patch wonders if graffiti vandals are stepping up their game and getting bolder. Their evidence? A recent vandalization of a DWP building at the corner of Devonsire Street and De Soto Avenue. Does graffiti on DWP property demonstrate an increased boldness? Or is this just a matter of us noticing it more now that we face a dramatic cut in the graffiti removal program? For now, you can still call 3-1-1 to make a report and get it removed. For later, who knows. more ›

One quarter into the 2010-11 fiscal year and Los Angeles' "spending is running $63 million more than expected," according to the Daily News. The information comes from City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana, who warned the City Council last week in the latest financial status report. The overrun can be covered by the reserve and unappropriated balance accounts, but come June, there's an anticipated $318 million deficit expected. (h/t LA Observed) more ›

Just like Los Angeles' budget-saving move in closing libraries twice weekly earlier this year, Long Beach today followed suit. Its system of 12 libraries will all now be closed two days a week (Sundays and Mondays). Previously, four libraries were open six days a week, with Monday on the schedule. "This action is a result of the Long Beach Public Library's implementation of the City's adopted budget to offset a structural deficit of $18.5 million for [Fiscal Year 2011]," stated the city's website. more ›

Journalist Mark Lacter this month in Los Angeles Magazine and at his L.A. Biz Observed blog nicely explains why the city of Los Angeles is still facing major budget problems. I say "still" because if you follow the news, it may seem like the crisis mode we were in earlier this year is over since the city's budget was passed. Yes, there were cuts made here and there, but the real financial problems have yet to hit the city hard. When they do, it will likely be when L.A. has a new mayor. more ›

Los Angeles has been dealing with a severe budget crisis this past year, forcing elected officials to make draconian cuts to the workforce and services. To name a few of the effects, libraries are now closed two days a week, employees across the board must take furloughs and the LAPD has had to make adjustments to how it deploys officers. more ›

There's nothing new about this concept, but Los Angeles and its $250 million budget shortfall could use the boost. Today Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced two new programs that he and others hope will spur local economic activity. That is to say, when you buy a taxed item in the city--say a $10 book--a portion of it--$1--comes back to fund services. more ›

Who knew that the suspected Grim Sleeper serial killer and the city of Bell scandal could be somewhat related? They are, but not directly, just anecdotally. City and state worker pensions have been an increasingly controversial topic as government budgets diminish and now Lonnie Franklin's pension from the city of Los Angeles is out there. more ›

To lease public parking garages or not? That is the question the Los Angeles City Council will be facing today. Actually, if they do vote on the matter, it will be to solicit bids, and once they are in, they will decide to go through with it. But if they don't, the city stands at greater financial peril, meaning up to 1,000 city worker layoffs and more furlough days for those who are spared. more ›

Talking about pensions isn't exactly sexy, but when you get angry about potholes not getting fixed, lack of public transit and other downsized city services, many would point to the unattractive word is one big part of the problem. more ›

Sunday marks a big day of transition for Los Angeles, thanks to the city's budget shortfall. Both the Library and the city's 24-hour operator service shorten hours. more ›

Long Beach may join three Northern California cities by placing a marijuana tax proposal on the November ballot. The City Council today is expected to consider an item today that would schedule a public hearing in August, which is when the councilmembers would vote to place the tax measure on the ballot. more ›

The Santa Monica City Council is considering placing a measure on the November ballot that would put the city's budget woes in their hands. City leaders are considering placing a measure on the ballot that would ask voters to raise the sales tax a half cent or a property transfer tax hike of $1.50, according to the Santa Monica Daily Press. At issue is the projected $53 million budget shortfall the city will see over the next four and a half years. more ›

The Santa Monica City Council this week adopted a $533 million budget and was spared most of the drama Los Angeles had seen. Explains the Santa Monica Daily Press: "Though City Hall had to cover a $13.2 million deficit with fee increases, spending reductions and reserve funds, the approved budget called for no layoffs and no radical shifts in spending priorities." They even set aside money for bicycle safety education just in case they create such a program. more ›

More reductions in library hours, increased parking fines, taxing billboards, job cuts and more were the outcome of yesterday's 10-hour Los Angeles City Council meeting. In all, the city's $6.7 billion budget was approved, thus sending it to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for his blessing. more ›

The Los Angeles City Council usually does not meet on Mondays, but as the full group begins to discuss and consider next year's fiscal budget, which begins July 1st, a special meeting has been called to avoid mass layoffs. 1,761 jobs could be saved, but that depends on how things play out. 761 of them would be saved if unions accept more paycuts and up to 1,000 would be saved if by October 1st, revenues from leasing out city-owned parking garages and other revenue sources generate enough money. more ›

When thousands of city jobs were threatened earlier this year due to L.A.'s own budget crisis, the Coalition of L.A. City Unions decided to propose their own budget that would include job-saving measures. One of those ideas would take 50 sacked employees and put them to work on the streets as parking enforcement officers. more ›

Councilmember Herb Wesson wants the city to explore placing a measure on a ballot asking voters to tax billboards. The suggestion comes in a letter (.pdf) from L.A. City Councilmember Herb Wesson offering various ideas on saving the budget. more ›

On Wednesday, former Mayor Richard Riordan released a scathing op-ed in the Wall Street Journal explaining why Los Angeles was on the brink of bankruptcy and what the city should do to fix it. The problem with L.A., Riordan said, was pension reform and new employee hires. more ›

In the Wall Street Journal yesterday, former Mayor Richard Riordan and a president of a local investment advisory firm said Los Angeles is on the brink of Bankruptcy. That's not a surprising claim, but the two lay out why they think this and a how-to to fix it. They say the problems are related to two numbers: 8% and 5,000. more ›

One day before Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is set announce his budget for the next fiscal year (it begins in July), city trash workers from SEIU Local 721 and the Coalition of LA City Unions hit the streets with a campaign protesting worker layoffs and furloughs and cuts to programs and services. more ›

The city budget crisis continues to potentially affect the LAPD. One idea, in order to keep officers on the street handling critical situations, is to stop some services like having officers respond to damage-only vehicle collisions, nighttime front desk officers and timely police reports. "In the end, the way the public will feel it, there will be some reduced 'nice-to-have' services by the Los Angeles Police Department,'' Chief Charlie Beck said, according to the LA Weekly. more ›

After a lower-than-expected attrition rate, it looks like LAPD will be unexpectedly beefing up its ranks by 22 more officers than planned for, according to the LA Times. Even with those extra numbers on the force, the goal of 9,963 sworn officers is still slightly lower than Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's goal of 10,000 officers. more ›

That headline could be for anything, though. Cutting at-risk youth programs could lead to more violence and incidents for police to respond to. Cutting parks operations could leave parks unmaintained, making it more expensive later to fix. Cutting street sweepers could mean less days parking enforcement is able to write parking tickets. Nonetheless, the Daily News today explores the effect of potholes not being filled. more ›

Since everyone's eyes are on Los Angeles' budget these days, here's a preview of Monday's 1 p.m. Budget Committee meeting (.pdf). Committee members will discuss the Financial Status Report from Friday. It brings the news that the city has a bigger deficit than before, now at $222.4 million (see LAist's breakdown of this report here). more ›

Citing solutions to the city's budget crisis, such as the early retirement program and a hiring freeze, the Los Angeles Public Library this morning formally announced new hours which being immediately. Citywide, all libraries will be closed on Sundays. The other six days, Central Library will be open at 10 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. every other day, except on Fridays when it will close at 5:30 p.m. (hours for all facilities--Central, Regional and Branch libraries--are listed below) more ›

Two dozen librarians took to the corner of Venice and Fairfax this morning during rush hour. Their goal? Let the masses know that libraries, too, are suffering because of the city's budget crisis, especially with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power standing in the way. more ›

Los Angeles budget officials today reported an increase in the city's budget deficit. "The 2009-10 Budget deficit is now estimated at $222.4 million," a report released today said. The new number, which was previously $212 million, is based on $36.8 million in savings, the unexpected $26 million in increased property tax revenue and the loss of, thanks to a standoff over the controversial carbon surcharge rate hike, $73.5 million power revenue transfer from the LADWP. If that transfer would happen, the deficit would be reduced to $148.9 million. more ›

Councilman Eric Garcetti thinks that's an actual possibility. In a comment he left on LA Weekly's website, he said "Our work in February and March has resulted in further real savings that will total about $50-$65 million more by the end of June (end of our fiscal year). Combined with slightly better property tax receipts, we will be able to meet our obligations for this year. Nevertheless, I hope the DWP gives the transfer to the residents of the city that they promised to just two months ago. Combined with the actions we have taken and the slight revenue uptick, we could land at the end of the year about $80-$100 million in the black." Not bad! But as the Weekly notes, on July 1st when the new fiscal year begins, we start off with a projected $485 million deficit. more ›