DEMS' COST TO L.A. SOARS TO $35 MILLION.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

The Democratic National Convention cost Los Angeles taxpayers $35.8 million - more than triple the original estimate and $14.1 million more than was budgeted, officials said Thursday.

In a report to Mayor Richard Riordan and the City Council, City Administrator Bill Fujioka recommended that the shortfall be made up from unappropriated and reserve funds and absorbed in department budgets.

He said the city would take in $2 million in bed tax revenue from the $147 million in business the DNC brought to the city.

Councilman Joel Wachs, a mayoral candidate sharply critical of public financing of the political convention, said the report confirmed his fears.

``Surprise, surprise,'' Wachs said.

``It's the same thing all the time. People want something. They make huge assertions and use the figures as an excuse. It's so frustrating. These reports are done to justify what they wanted to do in the first place and use it to shield themselves.''

Fujioka said the biggest expense was $17.6 million for services above normal levels - primarily in overtime pay, supplies and equipment that had not been anticipated. The largest portion of this - $11.6 million - was for police overtime costs.

``The costs incurred by city departments were in direct support of and consistent with the (contract) with the . . . Democratic National Convention Committee, L.A. Convention 2000 . . . and the L.A. Arena Company,'' Fujioka wrote in his report, noting the state will provide $2.5 million for security costs.

Originally, the city had been committed to about $11 million in direct and indirect costs for the convention. That later was increased by $4 million when L.A. Convention 2000, known during the DNC as the Host Committee, fell short in its fund-raising efforts.

Fujioka said the breakdown for all costs includes $12.2 million for in- kind services, $2 million for transportation of delegates and $4 million spent by the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau.

A Riordan spokesman said the mayor considers the city's expense an investment.

``Not only did the convention generate $147 million in spending; it paid off tremendously in other areas,'' said spokesman Ben Austin, who served as spokesman for the Host Committee before and during the convention.

``The convention was a success because it paid off financially for the city and will continue to do so for years to come. And it allowed the city to be in the national spotlight to shine. This was a tremendous success, no matter how you cut it.''

Wachs said his anger is directed at officials who give cost estimates that are unrealistically low.

``What they do is low-ball us to get us to sign on, and then we can't get out of the contract,'' Wachs said. ``I knew it was grossly understated. What we aren't looking at is the drain of resources on the rest of the city.''