Mayor Karen Bass is heading to Sacramento Wednesday to meet with state leaders to discuss potential solutions for the city’s precarious financial position.
In recent weeks, Bass and other elected officials have lobbied state leaders for a $2 billion relief package — with a decision on the matter to be determined.
City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto will join Bass in Sacramento as they also lobby for legislation regarding liability payments, a factor in the city’s budget deficit, and other issues.
The city is facing fiscal concerns due a 35% reduction in tax revenue, overspending, an increase in liability payouts, and costs related to recovery from January’s devastating wildfires.
Despite the cuts, the proposed budget would be an 8.2% increase over the budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Bass issued two executive actions Tuesday to expedite rebuilding efforts in the Palisades. The first was to make permit processing easier. The self-certification program is a pilot program that aims to allow qualified architects to certify their plans and that they meet the California Residential Code.
The second was to utilize artificial intelligence to support city staff review of project plans to ensure they meet building and zoning codes.
“These initiatives will help reduce timelines and further streamline the rebuilding process to keep our recovery effort on track to be the fastest in modern California history,” Bass said in a statement Wednesday.
The wildfires in January caused billions of dollars in damage to property and businesses in the Pacific Palisades, Altadena and parts of the San Fernando Valley.