A Los Angeles City Council committee is expected Tuesday to begin its multi-week review and consideration of Mayor Karen Bass’ proposed $12.8 billion budget for fiscal year 2024-25.
The first hearing will include presentations and discussion with the mayor’s office, City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo and an overview of anticipated revenues. The five-member committee will also hear from the Civilian Labor Partners and Neighborhood Council Budget Advocacy on their perspectives on the budget.
“While this proposed budget is balanced, it highlights the reality that our city is facing one of the most fiscally dire situations since the great recession,” Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who chairs the budget committee, said in a statement. “Facing costs associated with new labor deals, less than expected revenues and the drying up of federal COVID related aid, Mayor Bass has put forward some tough choices.”
He added, “Our committee will go over these choices and each department’s budget with a fine tooth comb to consider needed changes.”
On April 15, Mayor Bass released her proposed $12.8 billion city budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The proposal goes to the City Council for revisions, and must be adopted before the fiscal year begins July 1.
The spending plan represents a 2.3% reduction from the 2023-24 budget of $13.1 billion. It also would provide $185 million for Bass’ cornerstone homelessness program, Inside Safe, which aims to reduce encampments by bringing unhoused Angelenos into temporary housing such as motel rooms.
“This budget continues our momentum toward change by prioritizing core city services, but using this as an opportunity as a reset, so that our budgets moving forward are more honest, transparent and more focused,” Bass had said.
Regarding public safety, Bass proposed increasing the Los Angeles Police Department’s budget by $138.1 million — to $1.9 billion — from the city’s general fund. Combined with federal, state and other funding sources, the overall LAPD budget is about $3.4 billion according to the City Controller Kenneth Mejia’s office.
This coming fiscal year, the city is looking to hire up to 9,084 officers, scaling back on efforts to hire 9,500 officers.
Other highlights of the budget include $1.2 million for 150 more electric vehicle chargers in low-income neighborhoods, and $4.8 million for infrastructure improvements at the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant and another $1.5 million for other water conservation efforts.
Previously city officials have expressed worry over a $460 million deficit, composed of $289 million in unexpected spending and $180 million in less revenue than expected.
To right-size the budget, city officials have dipped into the reserve fund. Additionally, the city has implemented a hiring priority plan, and will look to eliminate 2,100 vacant positions from the books, which could save the city $150 million to $200 million.