No, we're not talking about the two- to four-percent raises given to some Department of Water and Power workers late last year as the City Council knew the budget crisis was looming. Rather, a handful of employees who transferred to the DWP in order to save their jobs and shave money off the general fund got nice rewards in the process — salary increases of as much as $15,000 a year.

This according to Ron Kaye, writing at OurLA.org. The city personnel department gave the site data on the 11 highest-paid transfer employees, and Kaye found that eight of them got raises — one got a $15,000 hike — while one lost $4,000 in salary, but saved a job.

The City Council attempted to put off layoffs by having as many workers as possible transfer from general fund positions — which are suffering under a $212 million deficit — to fatter independent departments such as the DWP, airports and the port.

Kaye found that 406 workers have been transferred, while 2,000 have requested the moves. The City Council and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa have called for 4,000 layoffs if folks can't find jobs outside the general fund.

The hikes in pay for some of those lucky enough to get transferred come as the budget-slimmed police and fire departments are putting less personnel on the street to respond to emergencies.

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