Despite the city's plan to split the cost of a parade honoring the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, the head of the union that represents LAPD officers criticized the expense again today, saying no public funds should be spent on a celebration when the city is facing a massive budget deficit.

"I think we can celebrate it using private funds, not public funds," said Paul Weber, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League. "I think it's inappropriate to be spending money on this when we've got people literally losing their jobs due a lack of resources.

"We believe that at this time when the city has declared a fiscal emergency, it's not appropriate to be furloughing civilian workers, closing down city facilities and curtailing city services to residents ... and then holding a parade," he added.

The Lakers and the city plan to split the $2 million cost of the parade, with the city contributing its $1 million to pay for police, transportation and general staff work during the event, which is expected to begin at Staples Center around 11 a.m. Wednesday and end with a noon rally at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Weber noted that the city is facing a $529 million deficit, and now is not the time to be spending money on such an extravagance.

The mayor's office has no immediate response to Weber's comments today, but Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told reporters during Sunday's Gay Pride Parade in West Hollywood that it would be "untenable" for the city not to hold a victory parade for the Lakers, who claimed the NBA title Sunday night by defeating the Orlando Magic 99-86.

City Councilman Bernard Parks, chairman of the council's Budget and Finance Committee, told the Los Angeles Times last week he believed the city could ultimately cover the cost of a Lakers parade.

"I don't think we have a choice," Parks told The Times. "This is one of those things that happen once in a decade."