Los Angeles city officials will receive a detailed report today that will suggest from where they should lay off 1,000 workers over the next five months to cover a $200 million deficit in this year's $7.01 billion budget.

A preliminary report presented to council members earlier this week proposed cuts in some of the most popular public programs: libraries, human services and neighborhood councils.

The report by City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana recommends that core services - police, fire and sanitation, as well as traffic programs - be preserved.

No decisions were made in the closed-door session earlier this week. The preliminary report was provided to give council members an idea of how Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa plans to balance the budget.

Under the proposal, the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment would see a 50 percent cut in its staffing to 19 workers and libraries would see a 10 percent cut in their overall budgets. The proposal also calls for eliminating the Human Services Department, which was created last year in a merger of the Human Relations Commission, the Commission on the Status of Women and the Children, Youth and Family Commission.

The Human Services Department is developing a strategy to stay alive, releasing a series of documents defending its activities and noting its budget of $2.1 million provides staffing to a variety of departments - from police to parks - as well as staffing youth and gang task forces, dealing with different religious and civic groups and counseling women.

The Mayor's Office - which took a 10 percent reduction last year - and the City Council would see no reductions.

Among the other suggested cuts, it was recommended the City Attorney's Office shave 100 jobs from its 1,005 staff - a move expected to be hotly opposed by City Attorney Carmen Trutanich.

Most of the cuts would result in a reduction in service levels. However, in others, the plan is to consolidate and transfer some services.

Unlike most years, when the mayor releases his budget proposal in late April, Villaraigosa has begun the process early - hoping to deal with the current-year deficit and reduce the expected $400 million shortfall for next year.

As part of the contract with unions, the city is allowed to reopen discussions once revenues drop below $100 million. Union leaders have questioned the city's estimates, saying it has yet to achieve the full savings from an Early Retirement Incentive Program designed to reduce the city work force by 2,400 employees.

Victor Gordo, a spokesman for the Coalition of Unions, said the unions will contest the layoffs.

"Don't believe for one moment we are going to stand by as they ignore their duties and responsibilities to the agreement we have," Gordo said. "We have proven we are willing to work with the city. They have rules available and they should use those before making any attempt to lay off workers."

City Council President Eric Garcetti has declared the city is facing "a full blown emergency" and wants the City Council to devote most of its attention in upcoming meetings to deal with financial problems.

Citing figures showing a drop in the city's cash flow from Controller Wendy Greuel, Santana said the retirements alone will not be enough to deal with the city's fiscal problems.

The financial status report to be released today will have more up-to-date figures on revenue and expenses and is also expected to detail the positions that might need to be eliminated.