The Los Angeles City Council has approved a new budget of $14 billion for the 2025-26 fiscal year, but it comes with significant cuts to public safety funding. This decision was made on Thursday as the council faced a nearly $1 billion budget shortfall. The vote passed with a 12 to 3 majority, reflecting a tough compromise aimed at avoiding layoffs for about 1,000 city workers.
Mayor Karen Bass had proposed a plan to recruit 480 new officers for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), but the council modified this, allowing funds for only 240 new hires. This means the LAPD will have around 8,400 officers by June 2026, a decrease from about 8,700 this year and a significant drop from 10,000 officers in 2020.
In addition to cuts at the LAPD, the council also reduced the number of new hires for the Los Angeles Fire Department. Bass had aimed to add 227 employees, but the council approved funding for just 58 new positions. This decision raised concerns among some council members, particularly Traci Park, who represents the Pacific Palisades area, which was recently affected by wildfires. She expressed worries that these cuts could jeopardize public safety.
Three council members voted against the budget, primarily due to the reductions in public safety funding. Councilmember Monica Rodriguez argued that more resources should have been allocated to Bass’s Inside Safe program, which addresses homelessness. She criticized the program for its high costs and lack of oversight, stating it spends upwards of $7,000 monthly to house a single individual.
Despite these cuts, some council members defended the budget, suggesting it still provides necessary funding for essential services. Tim McOsker, a member of the budget committee, noted that maintaining funding for police and fire departments would require cutting jobs in other areas, like street maintenance.
The budget also includes measures to potentially increase LAPD recruitment later if the city’s financial situation improves. The council has authorized the department to ramp up hiring if additional funds become available.
In a broader context, the city is grappling with a financial crisis driven by rising legal payouts, lower-than-expected tax revenues, and scheduled raises for city employees, which are projected to cost $250 million in the coming fiscal year. To balance the budget, the council tapped into the city’s budget stabilization fund and planned to increase parking ticket fees to generate additional revenue.
The budget proposal initially included around 1,600 layoffs, but thanks to the council’s adjustments, that number has been reduced to approximately 700. City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo indicated that further layoffs could still be avoided if city unions agree to financial concessions, such as unpaid furlough days.
As the council prepares for a second budget vote, the future of public safety funding and city services remains uncertain. The decisions made now will have lasting impacts on the city’s ability to respond to emergencies and serve its residents effectively.