Los Angeles Budget Challenge Survey released today

If you have opinions about the city's financial health, you can take an online survey posted today.

The Los Angeles Budget Challenge Survey, which Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa unveiled at a news conference at the Silver Lake Library, is part of a campaign to make the city's budget process more transparent and accessible.

``I believe community participation in the city's budget process is essential,'' Villaraigosa said. ``This survey gives everyone the opportunity to explore some of the options we are exploring to balance next year's budget.''

The survey -- at labudgetchallenge.lacity.org-- asks participants to balance a projected $400 million deficit by making decisions on such items as payroll cuts, service reductions and revenue-generating initiatives.

``We all have a role to play in balancing the budget,'' Villaraigosa said. ``I urge everyone to take this survey and share your ideas with us.''

Interviewed by reporters after the news conference, Villaraigosa said the fact that the city is trying to close a $212 million deficit over the next 4 1/2 months, as well as a $484 million deficit over the next fiscal year, means services will have to be scaled back.

``The truth is we cannot afford the level of services that we are currently providing, and we're going to have to do something about it so that in a few years, when we get out of this crisis, we can provide those services again,'' he told KABC 790 TalkRadio.

``I believe that if we make these tough decisions now to put ourselves on sound financial footing, the sun will shine on Los Angeles, the services will be restored, we will be back to providing the highest level of services that we can,'' the mayor said. ``It we don't make those tough decisions, this financial situation will only get worse.''

He reiterated that layoffs will be unavoidable, but can be reduced if labor unions agree to pay cuts and other concessions.

Another way to reduce layoffs is to transfer city employees to grant- funded programs and self-supporting departments, namely the Department of Water and Power, Los Angeles World Airports and the Port of Los Angeles.

Testifying before the City Council this morning, the general managers of those proprietary departments said they expected to have about 550 job openings over the next 12 months.

The LADWP's interim general manager, S. David Freeman, said the department expects to have a total of 188 job openings over the next 12 months. Another 150 positions will likely be vacated because of retirements during the same period, he said.

In recent weeks, LADWP has already absorbed 41 city employees who were slated for layoffs, and will hire 30 more over the next few days.

Freeman said LADWP will also review contracts with private companies to see if city employees can do the job instead.

LAWA's Gina Marie Lindsey promised to do the same.

``Every time we look at contracting something out, we do a review and see if it's something that can be accomplished by city employees, and we will do that with double vigilance going forward,'' she said.

Lindsey said LAWA is expected to have 93 job vacancies over the next 12 months. The port, meanwhile, is projecting 112 vacancies during the same time period, according to general manager Geraldine Knatz.

Councilwoman Janice Hahn told them: ``We want you to really scrub your departments and look for opportunities that you can save a family, save somebody's mortgage, save somebody from being thrown out into the street at the worst possible time. Look hard, again, to see if you can absorb some of these employees.''

The general managers are to report back to City Council next week.