Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is expected to present a budget Monday that proposes to eliminate hundreds of vacant city jobs to address an ongoing deficit in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
“Vacant positions do not fill potholes, sweep streets or staff parks,” Bass said last week during her State of the City speech. “And too many of these vacant positions have been there for years and years because of flawed budgeting that does not reflect how departments should actually operate.”
In his latest financial status report, Chief Administrative Officer Matt Szabo said a $476 million projected deficit for the current fiscal year is composed of $289 million in overspending and $187 million less revenue than expected.
The budget shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts July 1, is expected to be higher — in part because of generous labor contracts with the city’s multiple labor unions.
“The shortfall the mayor must close to get to a balanced budget for next fiscal year is estimated to be at least half a billion dollars,” said Rick Cole, the city’s chief deputy controller.
Cuts needed to balance budget
In his report, Szabo said the mayor and City Council would need to consider a variety of measures to address the projected shortfall, including:
- Eliminating up to 2,000 vacant positions, which could include non-sworn public safety positions;
- Cutting departmental expense accounts, including those used for contractual services and overtime;
- Reducing critical capital and infrastructure spending;
- Increasing fees for city services.
Szabo proposed eliminating 341 unfilled positions at the Department of Recreation and Parks…
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