Los Angeles City Council Approves Revised Budget Amid $1 Billion Deficit
Los Angeles City Council approved a revised budget on May 22, reducing proposed layoffs from 1,647 to 600 while making cuts to public safety funding, amidst a staggering $1 billion deficit. The final vote, which saw a 12-3 split, raised concerns over diminished emergency services. The revisions restored 133 civilian LAPD positions, crucial for processing forensic evidence and crime analysis, and preserved 62 positions in the Animal Services Department.
The budget creates a new Bureau for Homelessness Oversight to enhance accountability amid concerns about transparency in homelessness spending following the county’s funding withdrawal. However, the Fire Department’s funding increase was cut significantly, and planned LAPD officer hiring was halved from 480 to 240. The council emphasized that tough choices were necessary to maintain essential city services.
Critics, including Councilmembers Traci Park and John Lee, expressed worries that cuts to fire and police could hinder emergency response capabilities, particularly after recent wildfires. Supporters of the budget defended the need for trade-offs to safeguard other vital city services. The budget will now be submitted to Mayor Bass for final approval, who initially proposed a far larger budget aimed at reducing the deficit.
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