Hearings on City Budget conclude

Funding for city libraries, parks and homeless services was maintained yesterday, after weeks of hearings by the Los Angeles City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee.
The financial report from the Chief Legislative Analyst (CA) found $97 million in revenues above those presented in Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s budget.
The CLA’s report recommended spending $3.4 million to maintain 369 beds in homeless shelters; $1.5 million for 75,000 library books and $1.4 million to keep libraries open on Sundays; and $3.2 million to maintain the city’s parks.
However, the CLA’s report also recommended that the committee reject the mayor’s proposal to defer an $81 million payment to the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System.
The committee is expected to vote on the spending plan on Monday.