More than 2,100 U.S. cities are anticipating major budget shortfalls this year and many are planning to slash programs and cut staff in response, according to a survey of local officials whose results were just released by the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Nearly nine in 10 cities surveyed – from smaller hubs with populations of fewer than 50,000 to the largest metropolitan areas in the country – signaled they expect a revenue shortfall. Among them, more than 1,100 cities are preparing to scale back public services. Almost 600 cities predicted they may have to lay off some government workers amid the crunch. Local leaders in 1,000 cities said the reductions probably would affect their local police departments and other public safety agencies. The bleak outlook led some mayors and other leaders to call for greater federal aid to protect cities now forced to choose between balancing their ledgers and sustaining public services. Read the article at The Washington Post.