Los Angeles City Council Approves $14B Budget Reducing Police Hiring, Averting 1,000 Layoffs

The Los Angeles City Council approved a revised $13.9 billion budget for fiscal year 2025-26 aimed at addressing a nearly $1 billion deficit while preserving core city services and saving 1,000 jobs. The budget cuts Mayor Karen Bass' proposed police hiring from 480 to 240 new officers, reducing the LAPD to its smallest size since 1995, and scales back fire department hiring from 227 to 58 new employees despite recent wildfire impacts. The council's changes restore some city services, such as street cleaning and maintenance, but faced opposition from council members Monica Rodriguez, John Lee, and Traci Park, who criticized cuts to public safety and homelessness programs, with Park notably opposing further spending on homelessness due to perceived inefficiencies. The fire department will see a budget increase overall, including funds for helicopters and equipment maintenance, but no new funding for a proposed homelessness unit. The revised budget reflects efforts to balance fiscal responsibility and service continuity amid significant financial challenges and community concerns.