The City Council will consider the city budget during a meeting on May 22 at L.A. City Hall. (photo by Edwin Folven)

The Los Angeles City Council is scheduled to consider changes on May 22 to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ proposed city budget for the 2025-25 fiscal year, which initially included approximately 1,600 employee layoffs.

The council’s Budget and Finance Committee has spent the last two weeks going over the proposed budget and meeting with city department heads to determine how potential layoffs can be avoided and services can be maintained, and has a plan to reduce layoffs by at least 1,000 jobs. During a luncheon hosted by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce on May 20, Mayor Karen Bass said the goal is to reduce the number of layoffs even further.

“By the city charter, which is our constitution, I have to present a budget on a specific date … and the budget has to be based on the revenue we have at that date. So I had to present it with 1,600 layoffs. But at the same time, I said as the budget goes through the process, we’re hoping to avoid layoffs, and we’ve been working ever since to either reduce or eliminate the need for layoffs,” Bass said. “It’s still our goal to have a budget with no layoffs and we’ve had very good progress.”

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, 5th District, serves as chair of the council’s Budget Committee and has led the council’s efforts to reduce layoffs.

“The Budget Committee spent weeks making hard decisions and looking for ways to save positions to make sure departments can still do the work and deliver the core services our constituents deserve. The result is a revised budget proposal that cuts the number of layoffs by more than half, and restores core services like street cleaning, tree trimming, traffic safety, illegal dumping response and street lighting repairs,” Yaroslavsky said. “We’re also increasing oversight of homelessness spending, adding critical resources to the fire department and restoring 150 positions to the LAPD, ensuring our first responders have the tools they need to keep us safe.”

Yaroslavsky’s spokesman Leo Daube said the layoffs were reduced by making adjustments to the proposed budget. For example, the initial budget called for 480 new police officers, and the number was reduced to 240. Approximately 240 layoffs were avoided by eliminating a program for “homeless street teams” to address homelessness. The revisions restored 122 positions at the Bureau of Street Services so street paving and sidewalk repair will continue. The budget includes a nearly $50 million year-over-year increase for the Los Angeles Fire Department, including $80 million for new fire trucks and helicopters and funds for new mechanics. Through deliberations, 150 key civilian LAPD positions that support investigations and crime-solving were spared, ensuring officers can stay in the field patrolling the streets.

“This proposal reflects the values we brought into this process from Day One, protecting essential services, holding ourselves accountable and doing right by the people of Los Angeles,” Yaroslavsky added.

The City Council meeting to consider the budget begins at 9 a.m. on May 22 in Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N. Spring St. The meeting can be viewed online by visiting clerk.lacity.gov/calendar and clicking on the tab for the May 22 City Council meeting.