Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has proposed a budget that could lead to significant layoffs across the city. The plan, unveiled on Monday, aims to close a nearly $1 billion budget gap by cutting over 2,700 city positions, with approximately 1,650 of those positions being eliminated through layoffs. This budget covers the fiscal year 2025-26.
The $14 billion budget includes provisions for new hires in the Los Angeles Fire Department, which has faced challenges following the recent Palisades fire that destroyed homes and took lives. However, many other departments will see reduced funding, with layoffs affecting around 5% of the city’s workforce. This decision comes as the city grapples with rising personnel costs, increasing legal payouts, and a slowing economy.
Among the departments facing cuts, the Los Angeles Police Department is particularly impacted. The proposed budget includes layoffs of over 400 civilian positions, while the number of police officers is projected to decline further. By July 2026, the LAPD could have as few as 8,639 officers, the lowest number since 1995. This decline follows a trend where the department had around 10,000 officers just five years ago.
During her State of the City address, Bass described the layoffs as a last resort. She is actively seeking state assistance to help mitigate these cuts. "I believe there are some solutions, like from the state, that will help us so that we don’t have to do layoffs ultimately," Bass stated, indicating her hope for external support.
The budget proposal will undergo scrutiny by the City Council’s budget committee in the coming weeks. If the council does not adjust the plan and state aid does not come through, various departments will face cuts. For example, the Animal Services Department could lose 62 employees, while the Transportation Department may see over 260 layoffs.
Union leaders are already voicing their opposition. David Green, president of the Service Employees International Union Local 721, emphasized the need to fight against any layoffs, asserting that even one job loss is too many. Other council members have expressed concerns about the impact of these cuts on essential services, particularly in the LAPD, where losing civilian staff could increase the workload for officers.
While the proposed budget aims to protect some core services, such as library and recreation center hours, it still represents a significant shift in how the city operates. The mayor’s proposal also includes merging several smaller agencies into a single department and shutting down various citizen commissions focused on health and climate issues.
As the city navigates these challenging financial waters, the stakes are high for both city workers and the residents who rely on public services. The outcome of this budget proposal will shape the future of Los Angeles in the months to come.