HIRING FREEZE EXPECTED; PUBLIC SAFETY JOBS EXEMPT.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

With city revenues declining, a top Los Angeles official warned on Wednesday that a hiring freeze might have to be extended to include all workers except those needed for public safety.

City Administrative Officer Bill Fujioka told the City Council that Los Angeles will have to make some $155 million in cuts by June 30 in order for the city to have any sort of reserve fund for this year.

``We are in a very serious situation and are asking all departments to make reductions or consolidate their services,'' Fujioka said.

The easiest way to reduce spending, he added, is by not filling most of the more than 4,300 vacant jobs the city now has.

``The important thing is to avoid filling jobs now, not only for the cost this year, but the ongoing costs in the following years,'' Fujioka said.

Under questioning from Councilman Dennis Zine, Fujioka added that 1,100 of those jobs are exempt because they are officer vacancies in the Los Angeles Police Department. In addition, the hiring of some civilians within the LAPD - such as 911 operators and background investigators - also is exempt.

``Our top priority has to be public safety,'' Zine said. ``We have to make sure we aren't piecemealing out these jobs.''