The second of two opportunities for the public to share their thoughts on the proposed city budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year will come Monday at Los Angeles City Hall.
During a three-and-a-half hour session Friday at Van Nuys City Hall, more than 200 people, nearly half of them unionized municipal employees, implored the five-member Budget and Finance Committee to reject a proposal to lay off 1,647 workers, which they say will result in a reduction of services.
Mayor Karen Bass’ proposed $13.9 billion budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year includes eliminating more than 2,700 city positions with 1,647 layoffs and the elimination of 1,053 vacant positions. Those savings, among other new revenue sources, are expected to lower the city’s nearly $1 billion deficit to $800 million.
City workers, animal advocates and others showed up at Van Nuys City Hall to comment during the first day of budget hearings.
As speakers left the room, more kept flowing in to fill open seats in the approximately 70-seat Council Chamber. Photos posted on social media showed a crowd of people outside the building waiting their turn to be let in. Some animal advocates carried signs with things such as “Their lives are more than a number” and “Karen ain’t caring!”
Among the proposed layoffs are 403 civilian support staff at the Los Angeles Police Department, 262 transportation employees, 130 workers at the Bureau of Street Services, 114 city planners and 159 sanitation workers.
Britney Thorne, an animal advocate, warned that position cuts to the Animal Services Department could result in lawsuits and safety risks.
“The budget reflects the priorities of the city and mayor, and it should reflect the priority of the public,” Thorne said. “Yet, this proposed budget cuts 122 positions from LA Animal Services, which is a 32% reduction to an already underfunded department. The city of L.A. has the opportunity now to do right by our city’s pets.”
The proposed budget allocates $25.4 million for the Animal Services Department, a decrease of nearly $5 million from $30.3 million in the 2024-25 fiscal year. About 62 employees would be laid off and another 49 vacant positions lost.
Stephanie Galloway, president and CEO of the Valley InterCommunity Council, one of the largest senior center nonprofit organizations in the San Fernando Valley, asked committee members to keep the Department of Aging a separate department.
The budget proposal includes moving the departments of Aging, Economic and Workforce Development, and Youth Development into the Community Investment for Families Department, among other government structural changes.
Rebecca Garcia criticized ending the Youth Development Department as a separate department. It oversees employment, volunteer and recreation opportunities for teenagers.
“Our president has already established that he is not on our side. Can we count on our local politicians to have our back? Can we count on you to step up and support us where others haven’t,” Garcia said.
“My generation is paying attention, and your vote will speak volumes. I promise you, so will ours.”
Despite the personnel cuts, the proposed budget would be an 8.2% increase over the adopted spending plan for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
According to city officials, the mayor considered 3,500 layoffs but was able to reduce that figure by deferring capital projects and adjusting expenditures.
The deficit is a result of a 35% reduction in tax revenue, overspending, an increase in liability payouts, labor costs and fire recovery efforts. As a result of labor contracts, city employees will see an increase in salaries, costing an estimated $250 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
“My proposed budget is balanced, but we are facing dire economic times. It’s more important now than ever that we work closely with our state and labor partners, especially as we rebuild in the Palisades,” Bass said in a statement.
“I will not stop advocating for our city and our employees,” she added.
Layoffs in the mayor’s proposal would not impact sworn police officers or firefighters. The LAPD would maintain the approximately 20% increase in sworn personnel that was included in the 2024-25 budget, 120 officers.
The Fire Department see an increase of $103.7 million in addition with 227 new positions, support more paramedics, as well as maintenance of vehicles — an issue that came under criticism following January’s wildfires.
Library, recreation and park facility hours would remain unchanged. There would be funding for projects such as the modernization of the Los Angeles Convention Center, improvements for Sepulveda Basin and parks in the San Fernando Valley and South Los Angeles.
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“We do not want to see the layoffs take place. We are certainly hoping that over the next month and a half we will be able to come up with solutions that will avoid layoffs or that the number of individuals or positions eliminated will be significantly reduced by other solutions,” Bass previously stated.
Under the City Charter, Los Angeles must finalize its budget before the July 1 start of the fiscal year.
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