Los Angeles County supervisors to consider $45.4 billion budget amid pressing needs – Pasadena Now

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is expected to consider a recommended budget of $45.4 billion for the 2024-25 fiscal year, $1.4 billion less than the final budget adopted last year, according to a report from Executive Director Fesia Davenport.

The budget includes significant investments in combating homelessness, expanding mental health services and reducing the prison population. It also includes 116,159 total budgeted positions, 835 more than last year’s final adopted budget.

The “Recommended Budget at a Glance” section of the report highlights that the county faces $1.9 billion in unmet need requests, with most of its budget coming from federal, state and other sources tied for specific uses that cannot be reused.

The budget allocates $728.2 million to fund the county’s tiered approach to addressing homelessness, made possible by the Homeless Emergency Declaration which enabled accelerated service delivery and streamlined processes.

The budget also prioritizes mental health services, adding 452 new positions to increase clinic capacity, homeless assistance, pretrial services and diversion opportunities.

The distribution of budget allocations by category includes public protection (33%), public assistance (26%), health and public works, sanitation (24%), public administration (12%), leisure and culture (2%) and others (3%).

Despite these investments, the county has a limited pool of funding available to support new programs and expand the reach of services for residents, such as the Breathe Income Guarantee and youth employment programs.

Looking ahead, the county faces significant budgetary challenges, including potential liabilities related to Child Victims Act claims, uncertainty in the real estate market which could impact property taxes, the expiration of Measure H, which funds anti-homeless initiatives, in 2027, the consent of the Department of Justice. executive order, the need to renovate or replace seismically stressed county buildings, and structural deficits in various departments.

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the recommended budget on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. in the Board of Trustees hearing room in the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration.

The final budget for the amendments is set for June 24 and the supplemental/final adopted budget is scheduled for October 8.

According to the county, board meetings are open to the public and any public participation is welcome. Residents can participate in person by registering for agenda items using the kiosks or QR codes located outside and inside the Commission hearing room.

To view the meetings, residents can watch live online, on YouTube or rewatch on KLCS on Wednesday after the meeting at 11:00 p.m. To submit written comments on agenda items, residents can use the link https://publiccomment.bos.lacounty.gov/ and follow the instructions provided. All comments submitted online are public, visible and the page is updated at the end of each day.