SPENDING PLAN BOOSTS LAPD FUNDS.

Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer

Mayor Richard Riordan revealed his $4 billion budget for next year Friday, calling it a ``tough choices'' spending plan that nevertheless will add 700 police officers and make L.A. neighborhoods better places to live.

The mayor said he wants to open five new libraries and expand 11 branch libraries, as well as to increase street sweeping, tree trimming and nuisance abatement, among other community improvements.

With no new taxes in the 1996-97 spending plan, the funds to pay for those services and to cover a projected $240 million deficit will come from $60 million worth of citywide efficiency reductions, proposed consolidations of other services, and work force downsizing mostly through attrition and a limited buyout plan.

``It (the budget) reflects community priorities and my priorities as mayor - investments in public safety, basic neighborhood services and no tax increases,'' Riordan said in remarks before the City Council.

But, the mayor said many difficult decisions were needed to keep the budget within necessary bounds. The new budget proposal is 1 percent higher than this year's $3.89 billion spending plan.

``The budget is a tough choices budget,'' the mayor said. ``Tough choices lie ahead if we are to reach our shared vision for a safer and more business-friendly Los Angeles, a city in which all neighborhoods are safe.''

Most City Council members would not comment on the budget until they have more time to review it.

But Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas said he believes there will be a number of questions raised.

``There are some of us who are not convinced of the mayor's priorities,'' Ridley-Thomas said. ``There are also some revenue areas that I, for one, am not convinced will come to pass.''

Julie Butcher, spokeswoman for the Coalition of City Unions, criticized the mayor's budget, saying it assumes the city is inefficient in areas where it is not. She said proposed cutbacks in the work force, in particular, may be without merit.

The Los Angeles Police Department continued to be the biggest beneficiary of the budget, with an $83 million increase to $1.2 billion, to hire 1,200 officers.

After attrition, the force would be increased from about 8,700 officers to 9,400 officers. The budget also provides funds for more training officers, improvements to the crime lab and communications system as well as enacting Christopher Commission reforms.

Riordan has made the LAPD his top priority, pledging to increase the force by 3,000 officers.

LAPD Cmdr. Tim McBride said Chief Willie L. Williams was pleased that Riordan included funds for the crime lab and other support areas, but still considers it a ``tight budget.''

``Those are some of the areas that need work and we're gratified the mayor included them,'' McBride said. ``But, it's still a tight budget for what we have to do and the chief is confident the management plan that is in place will be able to implement it.''

The Los Angeles Fire Department will get a 2 percent increase, amounting to $5.5 million.

The mayor also has increased the Recreation and Parks Department budget by $3 million and included funding for the first year's operation of the Commission on Children, Youth and Families.

The biggest challenge facing the mayor in preparing the budget was overcoming the projected $240 million deficit, said Chris O'Donnell, assistant deputy mayor who prepared the budget.

The mayor is proposing reducing the city's 32,705-member work force by 1,070 positions, of which 360 are now actually filled.

Riordan said he is proposing buying out older workers who are near retirement and allowing others to transfer to other city jobs as they become available.

O'Donnell said most of the workers affected are in the Bureau of Engineering, where there are seven different layers of management. Two layers could be eliminated without affecting performance, he said.

Officials with the Bureau of Engineering declined comment Friday until they could evaluate the budget.

In addition, Riordan said he's proposing consolidation or elimination of some city services including the city's fleet of six civilian helicopters, elevator inspectors and the weights and measurement bureau. He said those services can be performed by other agencies.

The mayor is anticipating additional revenue from several sources.

He is budgeting $30 million from the Department of Airports and $20 million from the Harbor Department for services he says they received from the city - despite legal opposition, he said.

Attorney General Dan Lungren has filed suit against the city for its transfer of money from the Harbor Department this year and the Air Transport Association has threatened legal action if funds are taken from the Airports Department. In particular, the association has lobbied against a new fuel tax, which could be tapped by the city.

Deputy Mayor Mike Keeley said the city believes it has a strong case for the funds, and that Riordan has not specified where they will come from.

``We believe the city should benefit from its multibillion-dollar assets such as the Harbor and LAX,'' Keeley said.

Scott Macdonald, spokesman for the ATA-backed Citizens for a Strong LAX, said the mayor's budget ``declared war on Los Angeles International Airport.

``The idea of looting LAX to meet the city's latest budget crisis is foolish and dangerous,'' Macdonald said.

The remaining shortfall is mostly covered by a combination of reductions including a $31 million reduction in payments to the city employee retirement system, $21.4 million in pension reductions, a $12 million cut in the police overtime fund, and the transfer of $11.8 million from the storm water fund for street cleaning.

The pension funds did so well last year in their stock market investments that the city unions agreed with the mayor to reduce next year's contributions by $30 million, O'Donnell said.

CAPTION(S):

Chart

Chart: THE BUDGET DOLLAR