Long Beach adopts FY2026 budget with new funding for legal aid, eviction defense and violence-prevention programs

The Long Beach City Council adopted the fiscal year 2026 budget on Sept. 9, approving the mayor's proposed allocations and a set of Budget Oversight Committee (BOC) amendments that add one-time and structural funding for immigrant legal services, eviction defense, violence-prevention activations, youth programs and several downtown and community projects.

Councilmembers voted to receive supporting documents, close the public hearing and then approved the mayor's recommendations as amended and the BOC recommendations. The motions passed unanimously at the meeting at Long Beach City Hall.

The package includes a mayoral amendment that directed one-time additions, including $600,000 in one-time funds added to the Long Beach Justice Fund (bringing that mayoral-recommended total for FY26 to $1,850,000) and a series of one-time reallocations drawn partly from successor agency sale proceeds to support violence-prevention activities, youth participatory budgeting and small-business initiatives. The BOC's package added staff and administrative resources intended to support the Justice Fund's delivery; the committee asked the city manager to make additional programmatic, reporting and equity adjustments across the budget.

Key program funding reflected in motions introduced and adopted during the hearing includes: - Justice and immigrant legal supports: mayoral addition of $600,000 one-time for the Long Beach Justice Fund (mayor's motion A7) and BOC adjustments including $130,000 one-time and an administrative analyst position to support Justice Fund administration (BOC motion B22). Council materials list the combined FY26 investment as described in the motions. - Eviction defense and housing stability: the council approved funding recommendations that include $1,500,000 for the Tenant Right to Counsel program and $500,000 for settlement assistance, as set out in BOC and community requests and reflected in motions adopted during the hearing. - Violence-prevention and youth services: adopted items add funding for year-round community activations, safe passages and other community-based violence-intervention activities; the mayor and BOC motions reallocated funds to prioritize community activations, summer and year-round programming, and youth participatory budgeting (the motions reference increases to the participatory budgeting pool and one-time activations funding). - Downtown and small-business measures: motions call for "Safe Place" business certification, "Know Your Rights" materials and signage for businesses, and a combination of successor-agency proceeds and other one-time funds to support downtown activations and small-business rebound initiatives.

The council also approved policy directions tied to the Values Act and immigrant protections. Adopted motions direct the city manager to develop warrant-review procedures and signage for nonpublic city spaces, to require departmental preparedness plans for law-enforcement activity on city properties, and to add immigrant-affairs liaisons within departments. The City Attorney was asked to add standard contract language asking vendors to observe the Long Beach Values Act.

Councilmembers and dozens of public commenters urged greater structural funding for the Justice Fund during the hearing; many community groups spoke in favor of $2.2 million in structural funding, eviction-defense resources and tenant protections. The mayor and the BOC acknowledged community input and increased one-time investments while directing staff to return with implementation plans and further proposals.

Mayor Rex Richardson and BOC Chair Councilmember Joni Ricksotti framed the result as a compromise that preserves core services while responding to a surge of community requests and emerging needs. Richardson said the council must be nimble following federal developments that he said have increased local vulnerability for immigrant families, and Ricksotti emphasized the committee's community outreach and recommendations.

The council's adoption steps: receive and conclude the public hearing; adopt the mayor's proposed budget as amended; adopt the BOC recommendations; and then adopt the final FY26 appropriations ordinance. Each motion passed by voice vote with "motion is carried" recorded in the minutes.

What happens next: the appropriations ordinance will be read again at the next regular council meeting for final reading and the FY26 budget goes into effect Oct. 1. Council motions direct the city manager to return with implementation plans, funding-source details and updates on several assignments, including the Justice Fund administration and a January 2026 report on homelessness-prevention settlement assistance.

Votes at a glance (selected, motion reference in parentheses): - Receive supporting documentation, conclude hearing (motion by Councilmember Joni Ricksotti) — carried - Adopt mayor's proposed FY26 recommendations as amended (A motions) — carried - Adopt Budget Oversight Committee recommendations (B motions) — carried - Adopt FY26 expenditures and revenues as amended — carried - Adopt appropriations ordinance and related budget resolutions and fees/charges adjustments — carried

Council directed staff to return with additional detail and implementation plans on several items, including: operational plans for Justice Fund spending and administration; a report in January 2026 on settlement assistance; street-allocation alternatives for future discussion; and design and rollout plans for the Safe Place business certification, know-your-rights materials for businesses and community violence interventions.

The hearing drew scores of public speakers; dozens urged increased funding for immigrant legal services, eviction defense, language access and community-led violence prevention. City staff indicated many of the newly directed items would be funded from one-time successor-agency sale proceeds or reallocations, and several voted motions require staff reports before funds are spent.

For readers: the council adopted a balanced set of one-time and structural changes that reflect community priorities communicated during an extended outreach process. Staff will return with the implementation details that council members requested before additional appropriations are made or launched.