Mayors want state budget

The mayors of the state's nine largest cities, protesting new plans on how to balance the overdue state budget, called on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other leaders Wednesday to avoid taking money from cities that would jeopardize basic public services.Daily News.

A letter, signed by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the other mayors, urged the governor, Senate and Assembly leaders not to enact proposals to directly reduce funding or defer reimbursement of state-required costs.

"Today's uncertain economic climate has placed severe burdens on our own budgets and we have already made sacrifices through our own budget process," the letter reads. "If the state passes additional costs through to our cities, our ability to deliver basic services, including providing for public safety, will be at risk."