LA school board approves budget, includes layoffs

LOS ANGELES – The sprawling Los Angeles school district, the nation's second-largest, now has a final budget that includes pay cuts and layoffs of about 3,000 employees, including some teachers and counselors.

The school board vote 6-1 to approve the budget Thursday, saying it was forced to order the pay cuts and layoffs to close a $408 million shortfall. Board members blame declining revenue from the state and federal governments.

The Los Angeles Unified School District general fund is about $7 billion.

The district earlier reached agreements with most of its employee unions to take furlough days to save money.

The Los Angeles Times says the rest of the savings involved program cuts, shifting money to the general fund and other measures.