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Mayor's Budget Proposal Said to Solve Budget Deficit

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Photo by blaisetnutter via Flickr

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Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will release his proposed budget later this morning promising to to close the $530 million deficit for the upcoming fiscal year (July '09 through June '10) all while continuing to build the LAPD and preventing layoffs--up to 2,800 by his estimates--by asking employees to share the sacrifice. Of course, now through June 12th when City Council has to adopt it by, things will change. Villaraigosa's proposals never go untouched and in this heated economic climate, this year will not be the exception. There are rumors of jettisoning the LA Zoo and Cultural Affairs, consolidating smaller departments, early retirements and cutting important programs like the Community Emergency Response Team, something he proposes every year with no success.

The announcement will be at 11 a.m. this morning.

Also: LA County released their $22 billion budget this morning at 8 a.m. It is $415 million less than this year's and has 1,684 fewer jobs through attrition.

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