The LAPD would be allowed to grow to 10,000 officers this year but every other agency would have to freeze hiring while a two-tiered system for pensions and other new-worker benefits is studied, a city panel was told Monday.
As it launched its review of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's proposed $7 billion budget, the City Council Budget and Finance Committee expressed concern that the spending plan lacks specifics and relies too heavily on concessions still being negotiated with city workers. "We need to see a real-time estimate on costs and savings and the impact on the budget," Councilman Bernard Parks said. "The mayor has made assumptions about the savings with his 'shared-sacrifice' proposal, but I think we have to have some specifics to rely upon." Villaraigosa has said the city will need to prepare to lay off 2,800 to 3,200 workers in fiscal year 2009-10 if unions refuse to make concessions. Those could include taking a one-hour unpaid furlough each week and forgoing cost-of-living increases.
The city has a projected $530 million shortfall, due in part to its ongoing structural deficit. The recession is largely to blame, with declines in revenues from sales, property and hotel-bed taxes.
The mayor met with union leaders this past weekend to lay the groundwork for possible concessions. Aides said the talks were positive, although no decisions were reached and further negotiations will be needed.
Villaraigosa also has been meeting with community groups and residents to lobby for his spending plan and explain proposed cuts in services. Among the areas that would be reduced in 2009-10 are tree trimming and street and sidewalk repair.
Speaking to the council panel, Chief Bill Bratton said the $1.04 billion proposed for the Los Angeles Police Department would allow it to have 10,000 officers by 2010 and maintain that level as other officers resigned or retired.
The department will have 9,960 officers by the end of the fiscal year on June 30.
Parks and Councilman Greig Smith have questioned whether the LAPD should slow its hiring plan as a way to save some money. As part of that, Parks won support from the committee to get a report on imposing a hiring freeze beginning July 1. The freeze would apply to all positions except those that generate revenue.
Villaraigosa's budget reflects a 10percent cut in spending from last year, with most of the responsibility for making the reductions falling to department heads.
Bratton said the only way the LAPD could cut spending by 10 percent would be to mandate furloughs. Aides later said each officer would have to take two unpaid days for every 28-day deployment period, while the civilian staff would have to take off two days a month. The Los Angeles Fire Department, projected to have a $40 million cut in its overall $497 million budget, would suffer the loss of personnel to staff 20 trucks each day.
Pat McOsker, manager of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, said such cuts would be felt by the public.
"It means delayed responses, pure and simple," McOsker said.
"It means a fire that gets out of control and our response is too late. It will mean hearts not getting (defibrillated). A delayed response puts the public and firefighters at greater risk."
