City Hall's finances face a reduction as per Mayor Bass's statement; nonetheless, the figures appear to paint a distinct perspective.
City Hall Reporter Noah Goldberg here, diving into the confusing world of Mayor Karen Bass's budget cuts.
During her State of the City address, Bass mentioned plans to reduce funding for her office, line by line, like a titan sinking with the ship. Or so we thought.
"We reduced funding for the mayor's office," she declared on April 21.
Alas, my assumption was incorrect. When her proposed budget dropped that very same day, I suspected a decrease from previous years. Alas, the mayor's office budget increased, growing from $10.1 million in 2024-2025 to $10.7 million in 2025-2026. And none of its 94-person team were laid off, even as Bass proposed 1,650 layoffs elsewhere.
But the mayor's office isn't the only one with some interesting budget maneuvers. The City Council's operating budget ballooned, from $37.2 million to $39.3 million, with a $4.7-million "one-time salary reduction."
Deputy Mayor of Communications Zach Seidl explained the savings came from not giving regular cost-of-living raises (a 4%, 2%, and 4% increase) to employees in the mayor's office. So technically, they've cut their budget by 10%.
However, many find these explanations less than convincing. L.A. City planner and president of the Board of Governors of the Engineers and Architects Assn., Roy Samaan, noted the City Planning Department's proposed operating budget plummeted, while the mayor's increased. Samaan, who saw his own department's budget slashed, thought it was only fair for the mayor's office to do the same.
The mayor's proposed budget is just the first step. The City Council's budget committee will scrutinize the plans, with the full council voting on the final budget by June 1st.
Stay tuned for more budget drama, and remember – when it comes to politics, balance the books and hold your breath.
- The government, represented by Mayor Karen Bass, has been known to make confusing decisions, as shown in her recent budget cuts.
- The environment, in this case, the health of L.A.'s budget, is under scrutiny as City Hall Reporter Noah Goldberg dives into the complexities of the mayor's budget cuts.
- Politicians, such as Mayor Bass, often have to make tough decisions when dealing with budgets, but the public scrutiny that comes with it can be intense.
- Los Angeles, the city under review, is facing a challenging financial situation, with the mayor proposing 1,650 layoffs while her own office's budget increases.
- California, the state in which Los Angeles is located, may have to reconsider its policies and legislation regarding local government budgets if these trends continue.
- Education, in terms of employing the 94-person team in the mayor's office, has not been affected by the proposed budget cuts.
- Justice, in terms of fairness, is a concern as the mayor's office budget increases while other departments face cuts.
- The University of Southern California (USC) has not been directly mentioned in this context, but it serves as a reminder of the various institutions in Los Angeles that may be affected by the city's financial decisions.
- The economy, in terms of employment, is at risk with the proposed 1,650 layoffs, but not within the mayor's office.
- The legal aspect, or law, of the matter comes into play as the City Council's budget committee will scrutinize the mayor's proposed budget, ensuring it aligns with the city's general news and overall interests.
