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Last week, the Budget and Finance Committee reviewed the City’s first Financial Status Report of the fiscal year. The report shows we are in a more stable position than last year, but the margin for error is razor-thin. The City is projected to overspend this year by $263 million. We’ve found $183 million in offsets, but still have $80 million unfunded. Our reserves are back up to 5.04 percent, slightly above the policy minimum of 5 percent. We are holding steady, but just barely.
One of the City’s biggest fiscal risks is new spending without a clear way to pay for it. Departments and Council offices have requested tens of millions in additional funding for projects and priorities without any identified source. These items come to the Council one at a time, each with a small price tag that can seem manageable on its own. But together, they add up fast. Anyone who manages a family budget knows that letting small expenses pile up is often how things go south. That is why the Budget Committee directed that each Financial Status Report include a list of unfunded requests, starting with this one. Every new funding request adds pressure to a fragile budget, and without new revenue, every dollar we spend on something new has to come from somewhere else, which means cutting another service.
The main sources of overspending so far are the City Attorney’s Office, LAFD, Sanitation, and LAPD. The City Attorney’s Office is on track to spend nearly $25 million on outside counsel contracts, five times its usual level. LAFD faces an $87 million overage tied to civilian hiring, unbudgeted salary payouts, sworn bonuses, wildfire deployments, and delayed reimbursements. Sanitation is projected to exceed its budget by $30 million because the increase to the Solid Waste Resources Revenue Fund took effect too late.
LAPD’s hiring pace is the other major driver. The department is hiring faster than expected, which in any other year would be great news. But with hiring budgets constrained and no new revenue to pay for it, that progress comes at a cost. If we keep hiring above what is funded, the only options are to stop hiring midyear or lay off other staff to pay for it. Both would hurt services Angelenos rely on. I want us to hire more officers, but we have to do it responsibly and keep the budget honest.
Our job is to hold the line. That means sticking to the budget we passed, avoiding midyear spending, and preparing for upcoming costs like Convention Center debt, future labor contracts, and potential revenue declines. The City’s finances are stable today because we made hard choices last spring. Staying disciplined will keep us that way.
All my best,
Katy |
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Meeting with Palms Neighborhood Council
Last week, I joined the newly elected Palms Neighborhood Council for their November meeting. We discussed homelessness, public safety, and the neighborhood’s urgent need for more green space. Palms has some of the least park access in Council District 5, and my office is working on solutions to bring new community spaces online. I also shared updates on the City’s efforts to make intersections like Woodbine and Motor safer, and on our continued work to hold problem property owners accountable. |
Sidewalk Cleaning on Fairfax, Pico, and La Brea
This weekend, our office partnered with the Bureau of Sanitation to power wash sidewalks along Fairfax Avenue, Pico Boulevard, and La Brea Avenue. |
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ShadeLA
Last week, Council approved a motion I co-authored with Councilmember Raman to make Los Angeles an official partner of ShadeLA, a regional collaboration focused on expanding shade across our communities.
ShadeLA brings together the City, County, UCLA Luskin Center, and USC Dornsife Public Exchange to increase both natural and built shade using trees, canopies, and modular structures. The motion directs City departments to improve coordination, streamline permitting, and better tracking of shade and cooling projects across Los Angeles.
Extreme heat is the deadliest climate threat facing Angelenos. This partnership helps Los Angeles lead on heat resilience and prepare for upcoming global events like the 2026 World Cup, 2027 Super Bowl, and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Analyzing the Impacts of SB 79 on Los Angeles
Last Tuesday, the Council passed a motion directing City Planning and other relevant departments to study how Senate Bill 79 will reshape zoning and development in Los Angeles. The motion calls for a report to be presented by January 5, 2026, with the analyses and information necessary for Council to act prior to the law going into effect on July 1, 2026.
Any potential course of action largely requires information from both the California Housing and Community Development (HCD) department and official maps from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). In the meantime, City Planning has created a Story Map on the law, its provisions, and its potential applicability. While it’s important to keep in mind that the maps are preliminary, it is a useful starting point to learn more about the law.
Scattergood Power Plant Modernization
The Energy and Environment Committee heard from LADWP about the Board of Commissioners' approval of the modernization of the Scattergood Generating Station into a “green hydrogen-ready” facility. While the Department argues the project is necessary in order to meet clean energy and reliability goals, I remain deeply concerned about investing what may amount to a billion dollars in a project that would rely on untested technology at this massive scale. We should be focused on rapidly accelerating clean energy storage, transmission upgrades, and other renewable technologies like solar and wind. On the same day as the Committee’s discussion, the California hydrogen hub that was supposed to help coordinate around green hydrogen took a pause, further demonstrating how unclear the future of green hydrogen is. |
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Remembering Metro Bus Operator Tanya Perry
On the evening of November 3, Metro Bus Operator Tanya Perry was on a scheduled layover in Eagle Rock when she was struck by a driver while crossing the street. The driver fled the scene. Emergency personnel responded immediately, but tragically, her injuries were fatal. The Los Angeles Police Department is leading the investigation.
A resident of Inglewood, Ms. Perry joined Metro in 2023 and quickly became known throughout Division 7 in West Hollywood for her warmth, professionalism, and the care she brought to her work each day. She served tens of thousands of customers on some of our busiest bus lines and was beloved by her colleagues, lighting up the Division with her smile and the sweet potato cupcakes she often shared with her team.
LAPD is continuing to investigate and asks anyone with information to contact the LA Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). |
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Last week, our office worked with the Bureau of Sanitation and the West Los Angeles Division to clear and clean encampments in the West LA area. Outreach staff offered services and housing referrals before the cleanup, ensuring that every person had an opportunity for support. Neighbors have already expressed appreciation for the improvements, and Sanitation crews have also removed bulky items left outside nearby homes. Our team will continue to monitor the area to keep it clean and prevent repopulation. |
Bagley Avenue & Harlow Avenue |
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Join Us for Our Mural Community Input Meeting: 3215 Overland Avenue
Our office is partnering with Arts Bridging the Gap to bring new public art to the Palms neighborhood, and we want your input. Together, we’ll design a large-scale mural at 3215 Overland Avenue, which will span 20 feet high and 150 feet wide.
Join representatives from Council District 5 and Arts Bridging the Gap to contribute to the mural’s vision and design.
November 13 at 6:00 PM
Iman Cultural Center (3376 Motor Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90034).
Westwood Boulevard Safety and Mobility Project
The Westwood Boulevard Safety and Mobility Project begins its first phase of outreach to hear your priorities, concerns, and ideas for improving safety and closing critical gaps in the transportation network. With important connections to Westwood Village, UCLA, Metro E-line, and future Metro D-line, the project aims to create a safer, seamless street for people walking, biking, driving, and taking transit.
LA28 Volunteer Program
The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games have launched the LA28 Volunteer Program presented by Delta Air Lines. The program offers opportunities to serve across the region starting this year, with details on Games-time volunteer roles coming in 2026. Sign up on the LA28 Volunteer Program page to register your interest and get involved. |
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If you have any need pertaining to the City of Los Angeles, please reach out:
City Hall Office
200 N. Spring Street, Suite 440
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 473-7005
(323) 866-1828
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Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 Unsubscribe |
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