Introduction to the Budget Signing
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has signed a roughly $14 billion budget for fiscal year 2025-26, the Mayor’s Office announced Saturday.
Bass signed the spending plan on Friday, the last day she could do so under a City Charter deadline.
Agreement on LAPD Hiring
The mayor also announced that she has secured an agreement with City Council leadership to restore hiring levels for the Los Angeles Police Department. Council leadership will identify funds for an additional 240 recruits within 90 days, which will be used after the LAPD completes the hiring of 240 officers, Bass’ office said.
Statement from Mayor Bass
“This budget has been delivered under extremely difficult conditions — uncertainty from Washington, the explosion of liability payments, unexpected rising costs and lower than expected revenues,” Bass said in a statement. “This budget continues to aggressively combat the homelessness crisis and invest in emergency response and vital city services like street repair, parks and libraries. I want to thank the City Council for coming together on this deal as we work together to make Los Angeles safer for all.”
Budget Overview
The spending plan came together with the city facing a roughly $1 billion deficit in the upcoming fiscal year. The council gave its second and final approval of the budget last week, which was sent to Bass for her to either approve or veto the plan. It addresses financial constraints and reduces proposed layoffs in an early draft.
Key Features of the Budget
Bass touted the following features of the budget, which she called “balanced”:
- Restoration of more than 1,000 city positions at risk of layoff to ensure delivery of vital services like pothole repair, traffic management, positions that support future housing development and more;
- New investments in the Los Angeles Fire Department with more positions, funding for more paramedics and other resources;
- All sworn officers and firefighters are funded;
- Continued funding for 911 emergency dispatchers to lower wait times;
- Protection for homeless funding;
- Resources to continue driving the recovery from the Palisades Fire;
- Library, Recreation and Park facility hours maintained.
- Support for capital infrastructure projects including LA Convention Center, Sepulveda Basin improvements and recreation facilities in the San Fernando Valley and South LA;
- All positions preserved for the Emergency Management Department with a priority to expand with future funding;
- Continued funding for RepresentLA to provide legal representation to Angelenos;
- Funding to keep all animal shelters open and add strategic additional staffing support.
Reaction from Council President
“This has been one of the most difficult budgets we’ve faced,” Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson said. “The budget approved today is both responsible and responsive to the challenges our city faces. Along the way to alignment, there were healthy discussions and differing views. And I would like to commend the mayor and the budget chair for staying focused on what is best for the city of Los Angeles. No one got everything they wanted. There is still more work ahead, especially our commitment to work with the mayor to identify the funds for an additional 240 recruits within 90 days. We will share further updates in the weeks ahead.”
Council Vote and Layoffs
The council voted 11 to 2 to advance the budget resolution last week, which reflected the changes they made to Bass’ initial proposal. Council members John Lee and Traci Park opposed the revised spending plan, while Nithya Raman and Monica Rodriguez were absent during the vote.
Bass initially called for 1,647 layoffs and the elimination of more than 1,000 vacant positions as part of a plan to address the deficit. To further reduce layoffs, city officials are considering the transfer of employees to proprietary departments such as the Department of Water and Power, airports and port — which are not funded by the general fund but rather through revenue generated by their operations.
Union Response
While unionized city employees recognized the effort to reduce layoffs, some say the loss of positions would likely cause severe cuts to essential services and increase liabilities in the next fiscal year.
An estimated 647 city workers could still be cut, potentially complicating the operations of various departments such as civil rights and equity and youth development, among others.
Charles Leon, a regional coordinator for Service Employees International Union Local 721, previously stated the union is committed to working with the city on workforce development, in particular to address vacancy rates. He called for open discussions to improve service delivery and promote career opportunities for historically underserved communities.
“This discussion needs to start now — not at some better time in the unforeseeable future,” Leon said.
Conclusion
The signing of the budget and the agreement on LAPD hiring marks a significant step forward for the city of Los Angeles. Despite the challenges posed by the deficit, the city has managed to balance its budget while investing in vital services and addressing the homelessness crisis. The agreement on LAPD hiring will help to improve public safety, and the city’s commitment to reducing layoffs will help to minimize the impact on essential services.
FAQs
Q: What is the total amount of the budget signed by Mayor Bass?
A: The total amount of the budget is roughly $14 billion for fiscal year 2025-26.
Q: How many new police officers will be hired under the agreement?
A: The agreement includes the hiring of 240 new police officers over the coming year.
Q: What are some of the key features of the budget?
A: The budget includes restoration of city positions, new investments in the Los Angeles Fire Department, funding for 911 emergency dispatchers, and protection for homeless funding, among others.
Q: How many city workers could still be laid off despite the agreement?
A: An estimated 647 city workers could still be cut, potentially complicating the operations of various departments.
Q: What is the deadline for the city to adopt a new budget?
A: The city must adopt a new budget before the start of next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
