L.A. county facing budget problems

Reeling from state budget cuts and plummeting tax revenues, Los Angeles County officials are expecting a "serious" budget shortfall in the fiscal year that begins July 1 and have ordered departments to plan for cuts of up to 9 percent.Troy Anderson in the Daily News.

County Chief Executive Bill Fujioka, who made the announcement shortly after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger released his proposed budget Friday, said the combination of state budget cuts and falling tax revenues is straining the county's ability to provide public services.

"There is no doubt about it," Fujioka said. "It's going to be a very difficult year for us."