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This morning, I was proud to have shared news that makes me deeply hopeful for Los Angeles. After months of negotiations and creative problem-solving, we have secured agreements that avert all civil service layoffs in the 2025 – 2026 City Budget.
Earlier this year, some people said we wouldn’t be able to achieve this goal. But while others panicked, we got to work.
When I first introduced this budget earlier this year, Los Angeles faced an almost $1 billion shortfall. The numbers on paper were daunting, and the initial proposal included more than 1,600 layoffs, which would have meant thousands of families wondering how they’d pay their rent, put food on the table or keep health care for their loved ones. It would have also meant vital services cut back when Angelenos need them most.
I promised that we would fight to avoid layoffs – and today, I am proud to tell you that promise has been kept.
How We Did It
Our city workers are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. We fought and worked with our labor partners and department heads to find solutions that preserved jobs and continued services. We shifted employees into critical roles at the Port of Los Angeles, Los Angeles World Airports, and other departments where their skills were urgently needed. We developed creative agreements with unions, from voluntary overtime arrangements at LAPD to carefully designed unpaid holidays that averted civilian layoffs.
Every step of the way, we centered the people of Los Angeles: the workers who keep our city running and the residents who rely on them every day.
What This Means for You
Even in the face of economic headwinds, we delivered a City budget that builds on the progress we have made to reduce homelessness and crime. In this year’s balanced budget, we are delivering:
Neighborhood services, from libraries and recreation centers to street repairs, emergency response, and more;
Investments in public safety remain strong, including more resources for paramedics, 9-1-1 dispatchers, and homelessness prevention programs;
City infrastructure projects stay on track, including new recreation facilities in the Valley and South Los Angeles.
This is more than a budget win. It’s a victory for every Angeleno who depends on the services that make our neighborhoods stronger and safer.
Why It Matters
Budgets are about priorities, and this year’s budget reflects a simple truth: Los Angeles will always fight for its people.
When faced with hard choices, we did not allow working families to bear the brunt of economic downturns. Instead, we came together – with labor, city leadership, and community voices – to protect jobs, strengthen services, and keep Los Angeles moving forward.
A Promise to Keep Fighting
I will always fight for you – for your jobs, your families, your rights, and your future. Today is proof that when we stand together, we win together.
With pride and gratitude,
Mayor Karen Bass
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