Mayor releases budget

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa outlined his proposed $7 billion budget on Monday, using a North Hollywood street maintenance yard as the backdrop, to warn of hard times ahead for the city as he seeks to deal with a $406 million shortfall.
Details of the budget are to be available at the Mayor's website including links to his formal announcement, a budget summary and the budget itself.
The mayor is saying that street maintenance and repair would not be cut under his budget nor would there be a slowing in the police hiring plan he has adopted.
But, there will be several fee increases to pay for the city's operation, from libraries to trash to golf.
The budget plan now goes to the City Council's Budget and Finance Committee which will review the plan and make its own recommendations on spending.