Bass Unveils $13.95 billion 2025-25 FY Budget
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass unveiled a proposed $13.95 billion budget for fiscal year 2025-26 on Monday.
The spending plan closes a nearly $1 billion deficit, and to do so, it proposes 1,600 layoffs or about 5 percent of the city’s 32,405 workforce positions.
““Now, I would like to take a minute to address our city workforce directly: Make no mistake — you are this city’s greatest asset. Every single day, you come to work in dedicated service to the people of Los Angeles, often in challenging working conditions – you help Angelenos and you make our city better every day,” said Bass yesterday in her State of the City address.
“But I want to be straight with you – my proposed budget unfortunately includes layoffs, which is a decision of absolute last resort. The City Attorney and I will be in Sacramento this week to meet with legislative leaders and advocate for resources while also working to manage increasing liabilities. So let me assure our hardworking public servants, I will never stop fighting for you,” the lawmaker added.
Among the highlights of the budget are:
- No sworn officers or firefighters will be impacted – following direct efforts to retain officers to LAPD, about 20%, or 120, more officers are staying on the force this year compared with last year.
- LAFD budget increased by 227 new positions, funding for more paramedics, more fast response vehicles, and other resources and support.
- Protection for homeless funding so people don’t wind up back on the streets – homelessness is down for the first time in years in LA.
- Continued funding for nearly 700 9-1-1 emergency dispatchers to lower wait times.
- All positions are preserved for the Emergency Management Department with a priority to expand with future funding.
Additionally, the budget proposes the consolidation of four departments – the Departments of Aging, Economic and Workforce Development, and Youth Development will be consolidated under the Community Investment for Families Department.
The LA City Council must approve a final fiscal year budget by June 1. If the City Council modifies the budget, the mayor then has five business days to approve or veto those changes.
Negrete welcomes charter school to Santa Monica
Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete yesterday welcomed more than 2,500 students, faculty and staff from Palisades Charter High School to a new temporary campus in the heart of downtown Santa Monica.
Students resumed in-person learning for the first time since the devastating Palisades Fire severely damaged the school’s home campus in January.
The temporary “Pali South” campus, at the former Sears building at 302 Colorado Ave., took shape in just one month of construction thanks to a coordinated and expedited effort from city staff, Pali High administrators and the school’s architects and contractors.
“I’m thrilled to welcome students and families who have endured so much over the past few months, and it was so special to see the smiling faces of students and teachers arriving this morning to our city,” Negrete said. “It is amazing to be able to play a part in bringing the Pali High family together again at this new campus, and I hope it brings them a sense of normalcy and comfort as our region continues to rebuild and recover.”
Students will be at Pali South through the end of the school year on June 6, then return after summer break for the fall semester.
Mitchell Celebrates Earth Day
Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell (D-Inglewood, Compton, Carson, Hawthorne, Culver City, portions of South LA) celebrated Earth Day yesterday.
“In 1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated to raise awareness on pressing environmental issues like pollution. That same year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created. Fifty-five years later, Earth Day, the EPA, and our environmental justice organizations are needed more than ever to protect against climate change and other real threats to our environment and planet,” said Mitchell.
“We have one planet that we all call home, and we can all do something to help lessen the environmental harm it faces. For my team, some of the ways we are taking action include putting forward the ordinance to phase out oil well drilling across LA County, launching the Interceptor 007 in Ballona Creek to collect hundreds of tons of trash before it reaches our waterway, working to make our public transit system more accessible to help lessen the number of cars on the road and supporting the County’s comprehensive sustainability plan and initiatives to protect our environment.”
Mitchell also noted a special Earth Day celebration on Friday, April 25, at Stoneview Nature Center in Culver City. For a complete list of Earth Day events at your local library, visit https://lacountylibrary.org/earth-day-and-garden-month/.
