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Board approves cuts that eliminate extended pool season and reduce parks funding; supervisors seek alternatives
Summary
The board’s adopted budget phase removes previously planned funding for an extended county pool season and reduces parks funding by $22.2 million, prompting supervisors and community advocates to press for creative alternatives and temporary solutions.
Los Angeles County supervisors approved budget changes on June 23 that will reduce funding to parks and recreation programs and eliminate funding for an extended county swimming season, a move supervisors and public speakers warned will affect youth programs, cooling centers and seasonal employment for lifeguards.
Supervisor Janice Hahn raised the pool issue directly during deliberations, saying the extended season had been a “life‑saving” program for families during the late‑summer heat and asked staff for the cost. County staff confirmed the extended season previously carried an estimated $5 million price tag and covered 23 seasonal pools.
The budget action also reduces overall parks funding; Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s remarks in the meeting record showed parks funding would be down by roughly $22.2 million in the adopted plan. County staff warned that further curtailments could include two‑day‑a‑week closures of some regional parks and lakes, reductions to summer youth jobs and arts internships, and cuts to programs described as "Parks After Dark."
Why it matters: county parks, pools and recreation programs provide cooling, safety and supervised activities for children and vulnerable residents during summer months. Supervisors described parks and pools as public safety assets that reduce violence and provide refuge for families and seniors.
Discussion and responses: Supervisor Hahn said she was voting reluctantly in support of the final package and asked for creative alternatives to restore programming. Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and Supervisor Holly Mitchell both stressed the county must be strategic in implementing curtailments and urged departments to look for fee increases and other options that could preserve services without adding to the county’s structural costs. CEO Fesia Davenport confirmed the $5 million estimate for the extended season and explained some departments have proposed fee increases as partial mitigation.
Public testimony included residents and nonprofit representatives who emphasized the importance of pools and park programs to local families and to summer jobs for youth. Supervisors asked CEO staff to work with departments on alternatives before the supplemental budget phase in September.
What happened in the meeting: as part of the final budget package, the board approved the budget letter that identified the $5 million extended season as a program reversed in this phase and adopted all final changes. Supervisor Janice Hahn explicitly recorded a reluctant aye on the motion, noting the impact to pools.
Ending: the supervisors said they will continue to explore options to restore some programming before the supplemental budget phase; departments were instructed to return with curtailment plans and, where feasible, proposals to offset service reductions with fee adjustments or other targeted revenue.
