Los Angeles City Council Approves $15 Billion Budget in 12-1 Vote

Los Angeles approved its nearly $15 billion city budget Thursday in a 12-1 vote. The spending plan now heads to Mayor Karen Bass for signature. Councilmember Traci Park cast the lone dissenting vote. She said the budget falls short on public safety and core neighborhood services.

The budget maintains core fire spending, including firefighter recruit training, Rescue Ambulance staffing and operational funding. 7 million in unmet fire needs, including funding for 265 positions, that remain unfunded for now. Those requests are tied to a proposed sales tax measure expected to go before voters in November.

Park argued the city is delaying major fire investments despite repeated warnings about staffing pressures.

4 million toward major homelessness initiatives. Cleanup efforts, including portions of the proposed Clean Corridors program and the Coastal CARE+ team, were scaled back or delayed.

The budget preserves Mayor Karen Bass' goal of hiring 510 LAPD officers, putting the department on track for 8,555 officers by summer 2027. 25 million to support 2,396 civilian positions. The spending plan includes $11 million for deferred maintenance projects, $800,000 for tree trimming, and $1 million for expanded spay and neuter services expected to fund roughly 8,000 additional procedures citywide.