The revised budget increases LAFD funding and includes money for new fire trucks and equipment. (photo by Edwin Folven)

The Los Angeles City Council approved revisions to Mayor Karen Bass’ proposed 2025-26 city budget on May 22, restoring approximately 1,000 jobs that could have been potentially cut to close a budget shortfall.

The Los Angeles City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee, chaired by Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, 5th District, spent weeks poring over the mayor’s proposed budget and speaking with department heads in an effort to save jobs. Many layoffs were eliminated by cutting back programs. Saving the positions will avert potential disruptions to public safety efforts and city services such as street and sidewalk repair and tree trimming.

“A month ago, we were faced with a proposed budget that eliminated funding to keep our streets clean, reduced the number of sidewalk repairs by 30%, cut street resurfacing by nearly half, cut more than 400 civilians in LAPD who process DNA rape kits, perform fingerprint analysis and serve as crime scene photographers. The backlog to repair streetlights could have stretched to two years,” Yaroslavsky said in a statement. “These are the basic, everyday services that people rely on, and we cannot afford to eliminate them, even in a tough budget year. The good news is that we don’t have to. The revised budget restores these services, ensuring we can clean our streets, trim trees, fix more sidewalks and streetlights and make streets more safe.”

The revisions include a $50 million year-over-year increase to the Los Angeles Fire Department and a $15 million year-over-year increase for the Los Angeles Police Department. The funds were prioritized to protect residents during emergencies and reduce crime. The budget provides $80 million for new LAFD helicopters and fire apparatus, as well as a new payroll system for firefighters.

In the LAPD, savings were identified by reducing the number of Academy recruit graduates from 480 to 240. The revised budget restored 150 civilian positions within the LAPD for employees who provide critical support services for sworn officers.

“These specialized roles support investigations and crime scene work. They cannot be filled by sworn officers,” Yaroslavsky said. “We saved these roles by making the difficult choice to slow the pace of new academy classes. That decision was not made lightly. It is one of my top priorities for restoration if funds become available, and I hope to work with others – including labor – who share that goal.”

The news that jobs were restored to the LAPD was met with “relief,” said Lt. Mark Ro, with the LAPD’s Wilshire Division, which has more than 10 civilian employee positions at the station. The employees include investigative and administrative support staff, as well as employees who work in the property room and mechanics who service police vehicles.

“These are the people who keep the wheels turning,” he said. “It was met with relief around here that these positions are going to be saved.”

The council committee‘s revisions also restored 115 positions in the Bureau of Sanitation and 106 positions in the Bureau of Street Services. One hundred positions were restored to the Department of City Planning and 109 jobs were saved in the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. Yaroslavsky’s spokesman Leo Daube said the budget includes an increase in funds for CARE+ Teams, which clean areas where homeless encampments exist, and teams that remove illegally dumped items. The Los Angeles Chief Administrative Office is finalizing the council’s budget revisions, which will be sent to Bass for her signature or revision.