The Los Angeles City Controller has stated that officials are in the process of declaring a fiscal emergency as a result of a variety of factors, and over 600 redundancies are currently being considered.
Late Monday night, City Controller Kenneth Mejia declared a fiscal emergency, citing significant liability obligations, overspending, and revenue shortfalls as the primary causes.
“In order to balance the budget, 614 layoffs are on the table,” Mejia said on X. “The city will do its best to transfer employees [and] fill vacant positions.”
Mejia’s post contained a bar graph that delineated the layoffs by department. Of the 614 anticipated employment cuts, 248 are classified as “police – civilians.” The subsequent greatest group of layoffs consisted of employees who were classified as “personnel,” with 57.
Here is a breakdown –
- Police – Civilians: 248 layoffs
- Personnel: 57 layoffs
- Sanitation: 44 layoffs
- Fire – Sworn: 41 layoffs
- Information Technology Agency: 34 layoffs
- General Services: 33 layoffs
- Transportation: 29 layoffs
- Street Services: 24 layoffs
- Engineering: 23 layoffs
- City Planning: 14 layoffs
- City Administrative Officer: 10 layoffs
- Building and Safety: 9 layoffs
- Street Lighting: 8 layoffs
- Youth Development: 8 layoffs
- Civil, Human Rights and Equity: 7 layoffs
- City Clerk: 4 layoffs
- Community Investment for Families: 4 layoffs
- Disability: 4 layoffs
- Neighborhood Empowerment: 4 layoffs
- Contract Administration: 4 layoffs
- Economic and Workforce Development: 4 layoffs
- Public Works Board: 2 layoffs
- Aging: 1 layoff
In April, Karen Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles, presented a $47.9 billion budget that officials said was presented during a period of “unprecedented financial challenges.”
Earlier this month, the budget was ratified.
Just a few days ago, City Controller Mejia observed that the cost of immigration enforcement protests in Los Angeles exceeded $30 million for taxpayers. In addition, the City Council authorised a $5 million loan to fund overtime for the Los Angeles Police Department during the unrest.
