Los Angeles approves $6.9 billion budget

Wednesday's vote on the $6.9-billion budget avoided the need for layoffs and furloughs, both of which have been implemented in previous years.

The budget calls for several small fire teams to be redeployed, though no fire personnel were laid off.

The council rejected a plan by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to take out about $43 million in loans to pay for some city operations, with council President Eric Garcetti saying such a move would have amounted to "kicking the can down the road."