Long Beach’s budget season is in full swing.
The City Council held its first public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2025 budget this week, which presented an overview to what council members and the public will be discussing funds over the next month.
In the upcoming budget hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 13, City Council members will be reviewing the proposed budgets for the department of Police, Fire, Public Works, and Parks Recreation and Marine.
Long Beach’s proposed $3.6 billion budget includes new investments in housing, homelessness, public safety, 2028 Summer Olympic planning, education and more.
City officials have estimated a $20.3 million budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year, as the FY25 budget is the first to implement a strategy to reduce its structural reliance on oil revenue, but is still balanced thanks to one-time funds, according to the staff report.
“As stewards of the public trust we have to ensure that our city’s budget is balanced, it is efficient and it meets the needs of our diverse community,” said Mayor Rex Richardson at this week’s city council meeting. “The FY25 budget outlines our plan to build a strong, sustainable and inclusive future.”
Public safety is a key area of investment for not only the mayor and City Council but also Long Beach residents, according to City Manager Tom Modica.
The proposed budget supports existing and new initiatives to achieve a variety of public safety priorities, such as one-time funding of $200,000 to support the Long Beach Violence Prevention Initiative; one-time funding of $1.3 million for the High Crime Focus Team of the Long Beach Police Department; and increased funding for emergency medical equipment, fire station utility expenses and fire station maintenance for the Long Beach Fire Department.
A focus on addressing violence in the community is needed when discussing public safety, said Councilmember Duggan at the Tuesday, Aug. 6, City Council meeting.
“I want to understand more about how this is going to address what’s identified in the community as nuisances,” she said. “Nuisances are a big part of smaller crimes, violent acts are a major blow we’re seeing that a lot in the community, but I also want to look at smaller crimes – theft, open drug use, vandalism – and it affects our community and I think we need to take a look at that.”
Another issue brought up regarding public safety by community members was gun violence prevention and ensuring that programs – such as Be S.A.F.E. – remain funded as Long Beach Recovery Act dollars come to an end this year.
“I’m also disappointed to hear that many violence prevention programs are scheduled to receive budget cuts at a reduced capacity,” said Christopher Covington, commissioner for Long Beach’s Equity and Human Relations Commission, during public comment. “We need to figure out a plan to get funding because those programs are beneficial and it’s proven. When the city cuts proven violence prevention programs history shows that violence rises.”
“Our community needs violence prevention champions and structural funding,” Covington added. “I hope that we can count on you all to make it a priority in this year’s budget process.”
In Richardson’s proposed budget recommendations, dubbed the C.O.R.E. Four Budget, there is an allocation of $100,000 in the general fund to expand and pursue strategic policies, partnerships, and programmatic interventions year-round to reduce gun violence and improve community safety.
The City Council will also be presented with proposals from the departments of Public Works and Parks, Recreation and Marine on Tuesday.
Many of the projects for these departments are highlighted in Long Beach’s Elevate 28 Infrastructure Investment Plan, the city’s five-year program to undertake projects dedicated to serving Long Beach parks, community and public facilities, access to mobility, and street improvements.
There are currently more than 170 projects citywide as Long Beach prepares to welcome the world for the 2028 Olympic Games, said Director of Public Works Eric Lopez.
City staffers conducted a comprehensive review of the Elevate 28 plan. The proposed update includes all grant awards and additional funding that have been received and secured for projects since the plan was last updated a year ago.
There has been a $173.4 million increase to the overall plan. The proposed FY25 budget says that projects will be supported with $306 million of Measure A funds and $622 million from other funding sources for a total of $928 million, according to last week’s presentation.
Some of the projects added include a backbone bikeway on Orange Avenue, a sports court at Junipero Beach, Willow Street corridor, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Other city issues that were brought up during public comment on Aug. 6 that concern the community include the ending of LBRA funding causing layoffs in the Health and Human Services Department.
“It is time for the city to seriously allocate funding in the health department and no longer rely on grants,” said Carla Pulido-Jordan, who has worked as a city employee for 22 years. “It is time to save 73 positions that are pivotal to the operations of the health department so that we can continue to make the city of Long Beach healthy. As I heard today in all the talks about the need for hiring but yet you forget you’re laying off 73 people.”
Another item brought up was the Long Beach Justice Fund. Two people spoke, asking the council to ensure the funding is approved as it provides vital resources for members of the immigrant community in Long Beach. The FY25 allocated funding for the Justice Fund is a total of $1.1 million, according to the staff report.
“You’ve heard us emphasize the importance of investing in the security and agency of our most vulnerable populations, especially those who contribute so much to the economic health and cultural identity of our city,” said Gabriel Perez, a local organizer on the Long Beach for a Just Economy campaign. “Publicly funded programs like this give working class communities of color a fighting chance when forced to navigate an impossibly complicated legal system. We all deserve to live and thrive without fear or uncertainty.”
Those interested in participating in Long Beach’s budget process can participate at City Council meetings, attend Budget Oversight Committee or community meetings. The next community meeting will be on Monday, Aug. 12 at Cabrillo High School, and a virtual meeting will be held Wednesday, Aug. 14.
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