Council adopts $6.9 billion budget

After months of debate, the Los Angeles City Council adopted a $6.9 billion budget plan for next year that cuts city services, but offers compromises to appease police and firefighter unions. Daily News.

In a daylong meeting, the council agreed to a plan that makes up a $336million deficit by continuing the past three years of reduced spending. It also reduces firefighter deployments - but by less than initially proposed - and proposes additional savings to be negotiated with the police officers union.

"This is a realistic budget where we rejected borrowing to balance it, where we rejected cuts in public safety and where we are restoring library service to the city," Council President Eric Garcetti said. "After 10 years on the council, this was the smoothest one we have had."