The Los Angeles City Council moved closer Monday to the possibility of shutting down most city services for one day a week to deal with the ongoing budget shortfall.

The city is facing a deficit of at least $40 million in its $7 billion budget from now through the end of the fiscal year in June.

The council's Budget and Finance Committee reviewed a series of proposed cuts to deal with the shortfall that ranged from euthanizing more animals in shelters to prosecuting fewer criminal cases in court.

"The problem we have this year is $40 million and anything we don't deal with will add to next year's problem," Councilman Bernard Parks said. "Anything we do to find permanent savings this year helps us when it comes to next year."

The city is already requiring workers to take 26 furlough days this year, but now is looking at adding 10 more days, along with shutting many city agencies for one day a week. The committee delayed action Monday on imposing those additional furloughs, and Parks asked for a report back on what it would mean to shut down one day a week.

"The problem is we will only have enough workers for a four-day week," Parks said. "And, we want it coordinated so all the agencies are working together on this."

Among the new issues to consider are which days of the week the City Council meets. It currently meets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Friday but it could be forced to change that schedule if workers are off one of those days.

Parks said a decision will need to be made by Jan. 30 to achieve the necessary savings.

The impacts on the city will be dramatic, from humane services to public safety and general government operations, officials said.

On the humane front, Animal Services General Manager Brenda Barnette said it will mean euthanizing more animals and even more limited kennel space.

On the public safety front, Chief Deputy Bill Carter in the City Attorney's office said any more cuts will mean reductions in the number of prosecutors his office can put out to staff the courts.

"At some point the City Council has to decide how important criminal prosecution is," Carter told the panel. "Whatever else you do to the City Attorney's Office, I hope you understand it comes from criminal prosecutions."

Fire Chief Millage Peaks also said his department cannot afford any more reductions beyond the cuts already in place and it cannot absorb any more reductions.

"Any further cuts will debilitate our ability to deal with public safety," Peaks said.

Also, the Police Department said it was still in dispute with the city over whether it should be charged the $9 million for uniform allowances to officers.

"We have been told we have to absorb the uniform allowances," said Gerald Chaleff, special assistant to the chief. "We have been meeting $25 million in other expenses. If the uniform allowance is not included, we show a surplus for this year."

Officials with the City Clerk's office and several other departments said the latest proposal adding between five and 10 furlough days would force the one-day-a-week closure. City workers already are taking between 16 and 26 days off without pay.

"It could have a major effect on the city's operations," City Clerk June Lagmay said. "It could force the council to meet another day of the week, rather than Fridays. It could impact what happens when the mayor vetoes a measure and other matters affecting council files."

The City Council traditionally meets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and its committees meet throughout the week.

Other agencies saying they might need a four-day-a-week schedule include Aging, portions of Building and Safety, portions of General Services, Personnel, Planning, portions of Public Works and Transportation.

Planning Director Michael LoGrande said his office might be required to abandon all work on community plans, seven of which are near completion, through this fiscal year. The department has been working to develop new fees and surcharges to keep operating even on a reduced level.

"We are coming up to the most intense staff involvement. And if we delay them further, we risk having to do more environmental studies work."

Several cities around Los Angeles close offices on Fridays or alternate Fridays to reduce their overall costs. The state last year had a period when several government offices were closed on Fridays and the Superior Courts were closed on Wednesdays.

Los Angeles has resisted this in the past because of the size of the city and inconvenience it creates for residents. During the past two years, even as the city has reduced staffing by some 4,000 workers, it has minimized the impact by adjusting schedules to remain open five days a week.