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LA City Council To Weigh Budget Full Of Program Cuts And Furloughs Due To Coronavirus Crisis
The L.A. City Council will hear a presentation Wednesday about Mayor Garcetti's proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, as city leaders signal that uncertainty caused by the global pandemic makes it too hard to plan for an entire year of spending right now.
The city's tax revenues have taken a major hit during the COVID-19 crisis. Last month, Garcetti released a proposal for the next fiscal year that included cuts to most departments and furloughs of thousands of civilian city workers.
But the Office of Finance says revenues could actually be $45 million to $400 million lower than the mayor's projections. And COVID-19 infection rates and possible delays in reopening parts of the economy could mean the council will have to build the budget as the year unfolds.
In a new report, the city administrative officer said the council should not restore any spending that was cut in the mayor’s budget, because even those reductions may fall short of balancing the books if the coronavirus continues to dampen economic activity.
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