Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Budget Overview topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Los Angeles County releases $48.8 billion recommended budget and closes public oral testimony; Board to consider final changes in June
Summary
Interim CEO Joseph Nicchitta presented a $48.8 billion recommended FY 2026–27 budget that preserves core services amid fiscal pressures. Supervisors heard departmental briefings and extensive public comment and voted to receive and file the hearing while accepting written comments through May 15.
Interim Executive Officer Joseph Nicchitta told the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on May 6 that the recommended FY 2026–27 budget totals $48.8 billion and includes 115,885 budgeted positions, representing a net reduction of 81 positions from the prior year. "These cuts made it possible to deliver a balanced recommended budget for 26-27 that does not rely on additional cuts," Nicchitta said.
Nicchitta said most of the county’s budget is made up of state, federal and other restricted funding that cannot be repurposed, leaving limited locally discretionary revenue. After nonnegotiable commitments, he said the county had $63.2 million in ongoing discretionary funding and roughly $20 million available for local priorities after proposed allocations to protect CalFresh administration and other items.
The interim CEO warned of incoming federal policy changes that he said are likely to reduce public benefits and county revenue. He cited a projected $662.2 million decline in revenue for the Department of Health Services tied in part to Medicaid-related changes and described long-term liabilities tied to Assembly Bill 218, including financing expected to cover nearly $5 billion in obligations through 2051.
Supervisors used the hearing largely to invite public testimony. Supervisor Lindsey Horvath urged stakeholders to submit written budget comments by the Board’s unmet needs deadline, May 15. Supervisor Janice Hahn and Chair Hilda Solis both thanked departmental staff and emphasized protecting the county safety net amid slower property-tax growth and litigation costs.
After departmental presentations and several hours of public comment, Chair Hilda Solis moved, and Supervisor Horvath seconded, a motion to receive and file the hearing, take supplemental budget requests under advisement and close oral testimony while allowing written comments through May 15. The Executive Officer called the roll; Supervisors Horvath, Hahn and Solis voted Aye and the motion passed among members present.
Nicchitta and staff told the Board that budget deliberations will resume on June 22 and that the county will continue to work with departments to identify possible one-time or supplemental funding to respond to requests raised during the hearing.
