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 [ LA WATCHDOG ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=12)

#  Austerity and Transparency Are Demanded

December 04 2025

Written by Jack Humphreville.

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LA WATCHDOG - In Mayor Bass’ October message to the City’s General Managers regarding the development of the 2026-27 General Fund budget, she stressed the need for austerity (a word not in her vocabulary) in the upcoming budget that would be negatively impacted by rising costs, a slowing economy, and lower levels of Federal funding.

It appears that the General Managers did not get message. According to the Department Budget Requests from 36 departments totaling over 16,000 pages (quantity, not quality) that were submitted to the Mayor on November 21, the appropriations totaled almost $6.5 billion, $700 million or 12% more than the levels in this year’s Adopted Budget.

The largest increases are, as expected, for public safety: the Fire Department ($138 million or 20% of the $700 million increase) and the Police Department ($126 million or 18% of the increase).

Public Works appears to be addressing the City’s infrastructure, requesting an additional $230 million (32% of the increase), including almost $110 million for Street Service to help repair and maintain our lunar cratered streets and $75 million for Sanitation.

But the 12% increase is not in the cards because revenues are projected to increase by only 2.7%, or $225 million, significantly less than the $700 million requested increase. And even then, the anticipated revenues may be optimistic given the uncertain economic environment.

The budget next year will be under additional pressure because of the need to replenish the Reserve Fund which will be called upon to cover this year’s [shortfall, estimated to be in the range of $200-$250 million](https://www.citywatchla.com/la-watchdog/31821-las-unbalanced-balanced-budget-2). There will also be pressure to fund the homeless services budget because of lower contributions from Washington and Sacramento.

In the past, there has been no communications with Angelenos about the budget until April 20th when the Mayor submits her Proposed Budget to the City Council for its consideration. The City Council has about a month to review and analyze the budget, most of which is done in a rush with little transparency.

Rather than wait until April 20th, the Mayor and the City Council should be giving us periodic updates, say on January 15th and March 15th which will be after the Controller will have issued his Charter mandated Revenue Forecast Report on March 1st.

In these times when the City is facing fiscal challenges and when City Hall be asking us to approve increases of $125 million in the [hotel and parking occupancy taxes](https://www.citywatchla.com/la-watchdog/31897-no-new-taxes-without-real-budget-reform), austerity and transparency are demanded.

***(Jack Humphreville** writes the LA Watchdog column for CityWatch, where he covers city finances, utilities, and accountability at City Hall. He is President of the DWP Advocacy Committee, serves as the Budget and DWP representative for the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, and is a longtime Neighborhood Council Budget Advocate. With a sharp focus on fiscal responsibility and transparency, Jack brings an informed and independent voice to Los Angeles civic affairs. He can be reached at **<lajack@gmail.com>**.)*

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