By Los Angeles County Politics (LACP)
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass released her proposed $14.85 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-27 yesterday, a spending plan riding on expected stronger tax revenues to expand homelessness programs, accelerate police hiring, and invest in basic city infrastructure.
“For too long, city hall watched as more Angelenos fell into homelessness. LA underbuilt housing, our police department shrank, and our infrastructure crumbled. But we have changed that. Today, as many of you know, street homelessness is down almost 18% in the city of Los Angeles, while it increased 18% in the nation,” Bass said in introducing the budget.
She continued: “Now, after years and years, we are finally hiring more officers and homicides are at a 60-year low because we are also preventing crime as well as holding people accountable. And we just announced our plan for 60,000 street lights to wipe out the backlog and more. That is what the budget I’m releasing today is organized around. Continuing to change LA and move it forward.”
The spending plan represents an increase of approximately $950 million, or nearly 6.8%, over last year’s adopted $13.9 billion budget. City officials project a $412 million increase in general tax revenue, driven by growth in business, sales, and utility taxes — and boosted in part by the expected influx of visitors to World Cup soccer matches this summer, which city officials say will generate significant hotel and sales tax revenue.
The budget consists of $8.59 billion for the General Fund and $6.26 billion in special funds allocated for specific uses. No layoffs are planned, though Bass has recommended eliminating 149 vacant positions.
On homelessness, the budget maintains all existing Inside Safe interim housing beds and street-level services. Bass’s office says the program has helped drive street homelessness down and new funding is added to address RV encampments, along with increased funding for oversight and accountability of homelessness programs.
On public safety, the budget targets hiring 510 new LAPD officers, bringing the force to 8,555 sworn officers this year and a long-term goal of 9,500. Specific enforcement priorities include downtown retail theft and street takeovers, copper wire theft, and human trafficking.
The Fire Department budget is maintained ahead of a pending sales tax measure, with approximately $42 million proposed for four new fire trucks and other vehicles. Five hundred crossing guards are maintained citywide.
On infrastructure, the budget increases funding for street and sidewalk repair, street sweeping, bulky item pickup, and illegal dumping enforcement. A target of 700 lane miles of street repairs is set for the year. Funding for curb ramp installation increases 45%. A Street Lights Initiative aims to repair or replace up to 60,000 street lights over two years at no cost to the General Fund, with a broader assessment program targeting 220,000 lights citywide.
The budget comes in a mayoral election year, and Bass’s opponents in the upcoming June 2 primary were quick to criticize her spending plan.
“The budget the Mayor released today tells us the plan is to largely keep doing what we’re doing — but what we’re doing is not working,” said City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who is challenging Bass in the primary as a candidate to her left and trying to occupy the progressive lane.
Mayoral candidate Adam Miller, a nonprofit leader also seeking the Democratic nomination, went further. “That is tone-deaf to the city of Los Angeles as Angelenos overwhelmingly feel we need change,” Miller said, criticizing Bass for keeping services flat.
Republican mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt told the California Post that Bass’ budget pours money intoa failing homelessness system while neglecting basic city services.
“Despite record revenues, I see no real plan for the streets, sidewalks, parks, and streetlights,” Pratt told the Post. “There is no plan to repay Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s $129 million in past due payables.”
Not all council reactions were critical. Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Budget and Finance Committee Chair Zev Yaroslavsky issued a joint statement welcoming the proposal. “Our focus as a council will be to deliver a final budget that builds on this proposal in a way that protects essential services and reflects the priorities of the communities we represent,” the two said.
Under the City Charter, the Los Angeles City Council must vote to adopt or modify the Mayor’s budget by June 1. If the Council modifies the budget, Bass has five business days to approve or veto the changes. The Council then has five business days to sustain or override her veto by a two-thirds vote. The result becomes the adopted budget, taking effect July 1.
Residents can find more information at budget.lacity.org.
