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Los Angeles City Council holds budget hearings over Mayor Villaraigosa's proposed budget

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa released the Los Angeles city budget Wednesday.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa released the Los Angeles city budget Wednesday.
(
David McNew/Getty Images
)

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Los Angeles City Council holds budget hearings over Mayor Villaraigosa's proposed budget
Los Angeles City Council holds budget hearings over Mayor Villaraigosa's proposed budget

The Los Angeles City Council this week begins scrutinizing the mayor’s proposed $7 billion budget.

When the mayor unveiled his plan last week, the city’s chief administrative officer Miguel Santana said L.A.'s financial picture is looking up. “Our revenue has stabilized. We saw a freefall last year of our revenue last year. That has ended.”

L.A. still faces a $460 million deficit because revenues remain flat, and pension and health care costs continue to rise. The mayor’s proposed unpaid furlough days for city workers, if they refuse to contribute more to their pension and health care plans. The results of a labor union vote on the issue come Wednesday.

The City Council’s budget committee chair Bernard Parks will convene hearings on the mayor’s plan. He’s raised concerns about its optimistic revenue projections, and its plan to cover part of the deficit by borrowing $43 million.

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