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5mo ago

Mayor Bass Proposes Budget Cuts with 1,650 Layoffs to Address $1 Billion Deficit

The plan preserves key homelessness programs, adds fire department roles, and seeks state aid to mitigate workforce reductions.

Karen Bass (L) speaks after being sworn in as the Mayor of Los Angeles by US Vice President Kamala Harris during her inauguration at LA Live in Los Angeles, California, on December 11, 2022.
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FILE - Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass listens as President Donald Trump participates in a briefing in Los Angeles, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
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Overview

  • Mayor Karen Bass's proposed 2025–26 budget includes the elimination of over 2,700 city positions, with 1,650 layoffs primarily targeting civilian roles across departments.
  • The Los Angeles Fire Department would gain 227 new positions, including firefighters and emergency medical technicians, addressing long-standing resource shortages following the January Palisades wildfire.
  • While no sworn police officers would be cut, more than 400 civilian LAPD roles are slated for layoffs, continuing a gradual decline in overall department staffing.
  • Homelessness initiatives, such as the Inside Safe program, will be maintained, with funding drawn from sources like Measure A to sustain housing efforts.
  • Bass is lobbying Governor Gavin Newsom and the state legislature for financial relief to reduce layoffs, with the City Council set to finalize the budget by late May.