LOS ANGELES—Thanks to a landmark budget signed today by Mayor Eric Garcetti, public safety resources will be expanded, neighborhood services will be ramped up, and the City will invest a record $138 million into services and programs to get more unsheltered Angelenos into homes.
The $8.76 billion budget is the City’s blueprint for spending in the coming fiscal year, and reflects Mayor Garcetti’s commitment to a back-to-basics agenda — funding the expansion of key neighborhood services and the hiring of additional police officers and firefighters. The spending plan also closes a projected $90 million deficit, while maintaining a reserve fund of $322 million — the largest in L.A. history.
“Our budget is more than numbers on a spreadsheet — it is a reflection of our priorities and our values,” said Mayor Garcetti. “We don’t have to choose between keeping our communities safe, paving our streets, and caring for the most vulnerable — we can and must do all of these things, and this budget shows that we can do them responsibly. I’d like to thank the City Council for their diligence and leadership in approving this budget. This is an unprecedented investment in our most vulnerable residents, as we continue working together toward more permanent solutions to get homeless Angelenos into housing and off the streets for good.”
The City’s budget continues restoring core neighborhood services, funding 525 new sworn officers at the Los Angeles Police Department and 160 new civilians for desk jobs — so that officers can serve where they are needed most. The budget also includes funding for an additional 230 firefighters at the Los Angeles Fire Department — the first LAFD expansion in eight years. This budget will also extend funding for expanded trash and bulky item pickup, sidewalk repairs, tree trimming, and street repaving.
“I’m very pleased that we’ve come so far over the past few years to bring the city back to fiscal stability,” said Councilmember Paul Krekorian, chair of the Budget and Finance Committee. “Thanks to the extraordinary work of Mayor Garcetti and the City Council, we now have a healthy and responsible budget that delivers high-quality neighborhood services, increases funding for our police and fire departments, invests in jobs and economic growth, tackles the vexing problem of homelessness and establishes the largest reserve fund in the city’s history. This budget will enhance the quality of life for Angelenos today and protect our city in the years to come.”
Outlining the city’s priorities, the budget will fund the City’s homelessness strategy and grows L.A.’s investment in housing and services for homeless Angelenos by $120 million — nearly a ten-fold increase since Mayor Garcetti entered office. A majority of those funds will be used to support a “Housing First” strategy that focuses on getting people housed and connected to services. The plan allocates $67 million for the development of new affordable housing, and $71 million for critical services, including domestic violence programs, rapid rehousing, expanding shelter beds, and programming to support people as they transition into housing. This funding plan leverages every available resource and asset to fund these programs, utilizing a combination of general fund dollars and the revenues from the sale and development of city properties.
“This year’s budget reflects the commitment the City has made to addressing homelessness in an effective manner,” said Homelessness and Poverty Committee Chair Marqueece Harris Dawson. “We’ve balanced the critical need for housing production with enhancing how the City interacts with and serves our homeless Angelenos.”
The City’s homelessness spending plan has already garnered the support of local community advocates and leaders. Last month, the California Community Foundation, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, and Weingart Foundation announced a $16 million commitment in loans and grants to accelerate the production of permanent supportive housing. Those early commitments will help leverage another $45 million in loans to cover the costs of developing up to 1,000 new units.
In May, Mayor Garcetti also signed his 16th Executive Directive, which establishes a permanent Mayor’s Homelessness Cabinet and directs City departments to train and empower all City employees to become first responders in the fight against homelessness. The Directive implements a “No Wrong Door” strategy, which asks City employees to actively help connect homeless Angelenos with housing and supportive services.
