This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Amid the process of letting 2,400 city of Los Angeles employees retire early--a move to help save a dwindling city budget--a draft internal letter obtained by the Los Angeles Times indicates plans to sack at least 1,000 employees. "Revenues are significantly lower than original projections and we are prepared to make tough decisions, including layoffs and cuts in less-essential city services to our constituents," notes the letter, referring to tax revenues.The budget deficit, which has recently doubled to $200 million (it was over $400 million earlier this summer, then $100 million at the end of November), is expected to grow to $1 billion within a few years.
Other budget saving moves could include "privatizing city-owned parking garages, golf courses and airports in Van Nuys and Ontario," reported the Times. Another idea--not mentioned by the paper--that has been floated in the past has been to privatize parking meters, something the city of Chicago did in 2008, much to the disdain to many of its residents.
