A plan to eliminate 761 Los Angeles city jobs may carry a hefty price tag even though it’s aimed at saving money.

But because of labor contracts renegotiated last year by Villaraigosa and the City Council, the city would be unable to accomplish that goal without first providing a 3 percent raise to more than 15,000 full-time members of the Coalition of L.A. City Unions. Six months later, those same workers would get a 2.75 percent pay increase.

The total cost would run more than $32 million. Labor leaders who oppose Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s job-cut plan say that in addition, laid off workers would get $10,700 in unemployment benefits. However, budget analysts say the city still would save nearly $16 million this fiscal year and the figure would grow to nearly $63 million by 2013.

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