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LA WATCHDOG - In a recent television interview, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley discussed how the Los Angeles Fire Department was underfunded, resulting in understaffing, a lack of training, and a shortage of available equipment. This raises the question as to whether the LAFD can adequately provide medical and rescue services (80% of calls) and protect us from the ravages of fire.
Crowley’s criticism was focused on the $17 million budget cut in this year’s budget which will “negatively affect the LAFD’s ability to carry out its mission.” In essence, Crowley was calling for an increase in her budget. At the same time, she was concerned about the Mayor’s order to slash $49 million from next year’s budget request.
This was a gutsy move on the part of Crowley because of the risk of being fired by thin skinned Mayor Bass. But given the barrage of criticism that was being heaped on the Mayor, they locked arms after a closed-door meeting.
While Crowley has been criticized for her outburst that diverted attention from the out-of-control fires, she really did not have a choice. Over the past two decades, requests for adequate funding have been ignored by previous mayors, including Villaraigosa and Garcetti. Instead, departmental budget requests were often cut back to pay for budget busting labor agreements, including those for the firefighters and ambulance drivers.
For the upcoming fiscal year that begins on July 1, the LAFD is asking for a $62 million, 7.6% increase in its budget to $882 million, a reasonable request given its demonstrated needs. This does not include off budget financing of $244 million, primarily for its fleet program and its capital and technology improvement program. Nor does this include a recent council motion to consider a ballot measure to authorize bonds to repair and construct fire stations.
However, this increase may not be possible because the City General Fund is looking at a $250 million shortfall because of budget busing labor agreements (including those with the firefighters), overly optimistic revenue assumptions, and significantly higher liability claims. At the same time, the Reserve Fund is below minimum levels, even after transferring money from the Budget Stabilization Fund and issuance of Judgment Obligation Bonds.
This budget shortfall underlies the Mayor’s order calling for the LAFD to cut $49 million from its budget request and a major source of Crowley’s discontent.
The Mayor, her budget team, and the City Administrative Officer are in the process of developing the 2025-26 budget. While the Mayor will submit her Proposed Budget on April 20th, this budget is being concocted behind closed doors with no transparency or input from Angelenos, the same people who are footing the bill and who will be impacted by the budget.
It is time that the Mayor, the Fire Department, and other major departments conduct open and transparent meetings with the public to discuss their budgets, priorities, and tradeoffs prior in February or March, especially given the river of red ink and a depleted Reserve Fund.
(Jack Humphreville writes LA Watchdog for CityWatch. He is the President of the DWP Advocacy Committee, the Budget and DWP representative for the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, and a Neighborhood Council Budget Advocate. He can be reached at: [email protected].)
