Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass proposed a budget on Monday to address a nearly $1-billion financial shortfall by cutting over 2,700 city positions, with about 1,650 through layoffs. The $14-billion budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year aims to balance the city’s finances while funding new hires for the Fire Department, following the destructive Palisades fire three months ago.
The budget proposal includes layoffs across various city departments, with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) facing over 400 civilian job cuts. The LAPD’s officer count is projected to drop to 8,639 by July 2026, the lowest since 1995. Mayor Bass described the layoffs as a last resort and is seeking state assistance to avoid them.
City officials have been lobbying Governor Gavin Newsom for financial aid to prevent the job cuts. The proposal will be reviewed by the City Council’s budget committee, and if state aid does not materialize, layoffs will proceed.
The budget also plans to add 227 positions to the Fire Department, addressing long-standing underfunding issues. The department’s response to the Palisades fire highlighted the need for more resources. Fire Department President Genethia Hudley Hayes expressed hope in the proposed budget, noting the need for additional mechanics to maintain fire equipment.
Labor leaders and city council members have voiced concerns about the layoffs, emphasizing the impact on city services. David Green, president of Service Employees International Union Local 721, vowed to fight the cuts, while Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky criticized the LAPD civilian layoffs as potentially detrimental to public safety.
The budget proposal also addresses rising labor costs and liability payments, which have strained the city’s finances. Legal payouts have averaged $100 million annually, with the new budget setting aside $187 million for liability claims.
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