TIPOFF HERE A TAX, THERE A TAX, EVERYWHERE A TAX FROM HAHN.

Byline: RICK ORLOV

A sewer service charge increase here, a golf greens fee hike there and pretty soon you're talking about real taxes.

That's the message some homeowner groups delivered to Mayor James Hahn even before he released his proposed $5.1 billion budget for the coming fiscal year. It represents a 6.6 percent increase over the present budget even though it cuts a number of services, such as street paving and tree trimming.

Hahn said the fee and permit increases he is proposing are needed to continue the growth in the Los Angeles Police Department - and is in keeping with his promises last year to fight secession in the San Fernando Valley and Hollywood.

``One of the main things people talked about was the level of policing,'' Hahn said. ``What we've been able to do is increase the number of officers in the department.''

And, as for those cuts in public service, Hahn defended them as being necessary in tough economic times.

``I don't like making any cuts,'' Hahn said. ``But, fortunately, we don't have the pain the state or the county does.''

The state is facing a $35 billion shortfall and looking at billions in cuts and fee hikes and the county is looking at laying off workers, while the city's work force will actually grow with more cops.

Representatives of several homeowners groups and neighborhood councils already have begun circulating complaints through e-mails to their members and others, and are trying to develop an organized protest.

One missive notes: ``Higher taxes, degraded services, less efficient government. ... This (in) the mayor's budget.''

Without the fee increases, however, Hahn said it means the LAPD will not be able to expand.

Sniping also is coming from within City Hall, where a department executive facing cuts complained that the Mayor's Office has a different standard, with his budget going from $7.1 million to $7.9 million.

As Los Angeles prepares for the changing of the guard in July - prompted by term limits for elected and appointed officials - there is a lot of lobbying going on in the Mayor's Office.

On July 1, new council members will be sworn in - among them Tony Cardenas and Antonio Villaraigosa along with either GreigSmith or Julie Korenstein and either DeronWilliams or Martin Ludlow.

A lot of appointments to government agencies also expire. Chief among these is retiring Councilman Hal Bernson, who serves as Hahn's appointee to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Bernson, the MTA chairman, said he is willing to continue on: ``I may stay on the board, if the mayor wants me.''

But that is doubtful.

As mayor, Hahn will want to win support among the City Council members by appointing one of their own to the panel. As for the AQMD, the post must be held by an elected official.

There is also a lot of talk about who will succeed Bert Boeckmann on the Los Angeles Police Commission.

Boeckmann, who has served on the panel for the past three mayors, is prohibited by the City Charter from another term.

Councilman Dennis Zine said he believes the job should go to someone from the San Fernando Valley.

``(Boeckmann) has been the voice of the Valley on the Police Commission and I think that ought to be the Valley seat,'' Zine said. ``If not, whoever the mayor nominates might have trouble in council.''

Aides to Hahn said the mayor hasn't made a decision, but generally agrees the next appointment should go to a Valley resident.

Even with his high polling numbers across the nation because of his handling of the Iraq war, President George W. Bush still finds a difficult audience in California, as do Republicans across the state.

In separate surveys last week, the Field Poll found Bush was the choice of 45 percent of voters - but that 40 percent would go for any Democrat against him.

Nine Democrats have announced intentions to run for president, but none has emerged as a front-runner yet. One will emerge following the early primaries next year as well as benefiting from more attention with the war winding down.

Also, Sen. Barbara Boxer, the liberal Democrat the Republicans have used as fund-raising bait for years, continues to be favored to win re-election even with low numbers of support.

The closest opponent to her is former Gov. Pete Wilson (who gave up a Senate seat to become governor and has been talking in recent weeks about a return to politics). In that matchup, Boxer narrowly wins 46-43.

Boxer also holds a 50-37 lead over Bill Simon, who the GOP ran against Gov. Gray Davis last year. Simon has been talking about a potential race against Boxer almost from the day he lost his election to Davis because he did better than expected.

Staff Writers Mariel Garza and Lisa Mascaro contributed.