L.A. starts layoffs

Los Angeles took steps Wednesday toward laying off 246 of the initial 761 workers to be cut under the $6.7 billion city budget taking effect July 1.

A list of layoffs - affecting libraries, animal services and child care services in parks - was presented to the unions this week as part of the budget balancing plan.

But union leaders said the job cuts will ultimately result in only $13 million in savings because of a previous deal agreed to defer pay increases if the city agreed to no layoffs. Now that the layoffs are moving forward, they noted, the city will have to pay about $54 million in deferred wage hikes.