L.A. City worker costs up 7.5% a year, but revenue up just 5.7%

The L.A. Daily News reports:

Salaries, pensions and benefits for Los Angeles city workers have soared in the past seven years, outstripping revenue growth and pushing the city toward a serious budget crisis, according to a Daily News study.

Since 2000, Los Angeles workers' costs have surged 53 percent - to $4 billion a year - rising an average 7.5 percent every year.

General fund revenues also grew strongly but only at an average 5.7 percent a year.

The result is a swing of almost $1 billion, pushing the city from a surplus to an anticipated shortfall of $300 million next year.

"It's almost like we're working for them; they aren't there to serve us. The situation has gotten badly out of whack," said Jack Kyser, chief economist for the nonprofit Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp.

This is a vicious circle.Government workers are generally overpaid.They contribute to politicians that overpay them.Is there any doubt who's the driving force for more government? Remember,government workers really don't pay taxes because their salaries come from the taxpayers.