Several workers will soon lose their Los Angeles government jobs.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa recently announced that the City of Los Angeles will eliminate 1,000 jobs in order to cope with an ongoing budget crisis. The city is currently facing a budget shortfall of $212 million this year and $484 million during the fiscal year beginning July 1. The layoffs are expected to save up to $50 million this fiscal year.

“We’re living beyond our means, we have difficult choices to make, we must protect our economic future,” Villaraigosa said. “Unfortunately, instead of making progress, we are headed in the wrong direction. That ends today.”

According to an article by the Los Angeles Times, one day before Villaraigosa announced his decision, the City Council delayed action on the job cuts for 30 days. Fortunately, some employees may remain employed by being moved to other vacant positions.

Villaraigosa’s budget team found that up to 360 workers could be moved into other jobs not affected by the budget crisis. Those positions would be in such agencies as Los Angeles World Airports and the Department of Water and Power, which are not included in the general fund.

The layoffs would immediately affect employees who belong to the Engineers and Architects Association, which represents about 6,500 city workers, as well as those who are not represented by any union. Villaraigosa is barred from laying off workers with the Coalition of L.A. City Unions, which represents about 22,000 civilian employees.

“Earlier this week, I urged city leaders to enact a package of cost cuttings and revenue options, that when added to the elimination of 1,000 city positions will balance our budget, replenish our reserve fund and will maintain our good credit rating,” Villaraigosa said in a statement on his Web site. “Ending the fiscal year with little or no reserves is absolutely unacceptable.”

The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale area’s government industry employed 599,500 workers during December 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 600,000 workers during November and a 1.6 percent decrease from December 2008.

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