Mayor Eric Garcetti today signed the City’s 2017-18 budget, a spending plan that prioritizes fiscal responsibility, yet makes bold investments in L.A.’s future.
The budget funds aggressive work to fight homelessness, fix streets and sidewalks, and expand the Mayor’s Vision Zero initiative to make L.A.’s roads safer for all Angelenos. Today’s signing caps a month-long series of City Council hearings, which led to broad consensus around the budget finalized today by the Mayor.
“This budget isn’t just a spending plan — it’s an expression of our values,” said Mayor Garcetti. “We’re making change that Angelenos can see and feel in their neighborhoods, and charting an ambitious course to the future we have imagined together. I’m grateful to my Council colleagues for their hard work and collaboration on a budget that moves us closer to realizing our shared vision for this city.”
The final City budget keeps Mayor Garcetti’s proposed spending priorities intact. The $9.2 billion budget allocates more than $180 million toward housing, cleanup and services to help homeless Angelenos and more than $67 million in new spending to fix some of the City’s most broken streets, and improve transportation. The budget allocates $27 million for traffic safety.
The budget also puts the funding voters approved with Proposition HHH and Measure M directly to use. More than $89 million of the $180 million allocated to fight homelessness is HHH funding, which will go toward new permanent supportive housing and service facilities for homeless Angelenos. And the $67 million for transportation will come from Measure M and California SB 1, a transportation package that will fund street repairs across the state.
In addition, the budget keeps a commitment to fiscal responsibility by maintaining a 5% reserve fund.
“This year’s budget strikes a balance between prioritizing everyday neighborhood needs with bold citywide initiatives,” said Los Angeles City Council President Herb J. Wesson, Jr. “The Mayor and City Council have worked together to ensure the city’s finances are on track.”
“Unlike the regressive budget proposal unveiled in Washington, DC, this week, I’m proud to say that our local government in Los Angeles is doing everything possible to serve our residents and strengthen our city,” said Councilmember Paul Krekorian, Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee. “Thanks to the vision and leadership of Mayor Garcetti, we have delivered a $9.2 billion budget that is healthy, fiscally responsible and keeps Los Angeles on a path of progress by making major investments in traffic safety, housing and resources to reduce homelessness, and police and fire services. We are taking care of fundamental neighborhood issues that will improve the quality of life for all Angelenos.”
“This budget is smart, compassionate and it represents true progress for Los Angeles,” said Councilmember Mike Bonin. “From a record investment in ending and preventing homelessness, to funding literally life-saving safety improvements on neighborhood streets, this budget is a spending plan of which every Angeleno can be proud. I thank Mayor Garcetti and my colleagues on the Budget and Finance Committee, as well as the City Council for the time and dedication they put in to make this budget a progressive and sustainable vision for Los Angeles.”
“This year’s budget increases our commitment to keeping our streets and communities safe and clean,” said Councilmember Nury Martinez. “We put resources behind Vision Zero; I secured funding to continue the fight against human trafficking in the San Fernando Valley, and we increased budgets for our Clean Streets Program. As a member of the Budget Committee for the first time, I worked keep our Recreation and Parks teams fully funded, and led the effort to fund diversity efforts at LAFD. The Mayor and Council developed a budget with the right priorities to best serve the residents of Los Angeles.”
“This budget offers unprecedented funding to address homelessness, fix city streets, and support law enforcement,” said Councilmember Bob Blumenfield. “I am very pleased that there are several items that will have a direct impact on West Valley residents including more funds for LAPD PALS, services and programs to help vulnerable youth at Reseda Park, and speed surveys”
“The adopted budget protects our residents and communities, while investing in our streets and sidewalks and increasing funding for tree trimming, median maintenance, graffiti removal, senior services, and aid to the homeless,” said Councilmember Mitchell Englander. “This is a strong, compassionate, and responsible budget that funds our priorities while maintaining strong reserves for uncertainties.”
A photo of Mayor Garcetti signing the budget is available here.
