Council directs study on modernizing Los Angeles budget, including multi‑year options

The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday approved a motion directing the City Administrative Officer, with assistance from multiple departments, to inventory existing online budget tools and recommend ways to modernize those platforms — including community surveys, enhanced data visualization, and an assessment of switching to a two‑year or multi‑year budget cycle.

Councilmember Eunice Hernandez introduced the motion, arguing that Angelenos need clearer, data‑driven ways to understand city spending and a budget timetable that allows longer‑term planning. “It’s time we give Angelenos what they need to know about where their tax dollars are going and the power to influence where they go next,” Hernandez said during remarks on the council floor.

The motion asks departments to report back with (1) an inventory of online budget assessment tools the city already uses, (2) recommendations for integrating community input and improved visualizations, and (3) analysis of the impacts and implementation steps for moving to a biannual or multi‑year budget schedule and adopting a capital infrastructure plan. Hernandez told colleagues the intent is to reduce “rushed timelines” that hamper long‑range infrastructure planning and responses to issues such as housing, homelessness and climate change.

Councilmembers did not substantially amend the motion during floor debate. The council recorded the vote on the motion and related instruction as unanimous among those voting (recorded as 12 ayes). The measure is a direction to staff; it does not itself change the city’s budget calendar or adopt multi‑year budgeting. Any future changes to the fiscal schedule, tax policy or capital plan would require separate ordinances or budgetary action.

Why it matters: Hernandez and supporters framed the motion as an effort to increase transparency and public involvement in fiscal decisions that affect services citywide. The council specifically asked for recommendations and implementation steps, which will provide a staff roadmap for whether and how the city might adopt multi‑year budgeting and a capital infrastructure plan.

What happens next: The CAO will prepare the requested report with contributions from relevant departments, as directed by the council. That report is expected to include both technical recommendations (platforms, data sources) and policy options (timing and structure for multi‑year budgeting). Any legislative or budgetary changes would return to the council for separate action.