Street-lighting board warns year-long repair waits without new funding; council discusses Prop. 218 timeline and MOUs with LADWP

The Bureau of Street Lighting told the City of Los Angeles Budget & Finance Committee that repair wait times for public streetlights have lengthened to about eight to nine months and could reach a year this autumn unless the city identifies new revenue. Bureau Director Miguel Sanglar said the bureau currently receives about $45 million a year but the department’s analysis shows demand and theft-related costs mean it needs “more than $100 million” annually to preserve existing service and reduce deferred maintenance.

The shortfall has forced the bureau to triage work, Sanglar said, and the council pressed for options including increased fees or a ballot measure under Proposition 218, expansion of an existing memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Water and Power and possible short-term internal borrowing…