The city of Los Angeles wants to double the baseline budget for its parks department over the next decade without raising taxes. This would be accomplished by dedicating a larger percentage of the general funds for parks. Supporters say the boost would help the city fix up its parks, beaches and community pools — which rank 93rd on the nation’s Top 100 park systems for big cities. There’s no official opposition to the charter amendment, but fiscal analysts say the bump in funding for parks would lead to budget crunches elsewhere.

What’s at stake

If voters approve the measure, the L.A. parks department’s minimum budget would double over the next 10 years. The agency would be able to rely on a bit more funding each year — money that could be used to pay staff or fund efforts like park and beach cleaning, repairs to bathrooms and playgrounds, or public programming. If voters reject it, the agency will continue operating at its current minimum budget level.

Why it matters

Amendment PRK is part of a package of proposed changes to the L.A. city charter meant to improve operations and build public trust. They were recommended by the L.A. City Charter Commission earlier this year and approved by the City Council. The charter commission was formed in the wake of the 2022 City Hall tapes scandal, in which members of City Council were caught on tape using racist language and discussing how to hold onto power, prompting calls for resignations.

The measure also comes as city parks face ongoing problems with litter, crime and deferred maintenance. L.A. is ranked 93rd on the Trust for Public Land’s list of parks in the nation's hundred most populous cities, largely because L.A.’s park system lags in funding and the amount of green space available to communities.

A multimillion-dollar city-commissioned study last year also found that L.A.’s parks department budget has grown slower than other city agencies, and that its staff has decreased while park space and facilities have increased. The department oversees more than 500 parks, more than 150 recreation and senior centers, and 59 swimming pools.

Official title on the ballot: Charter Amendment PRK

You are being asked: “Shall the City Charter be amended to increase the minimum budget allocated to the Department of Recreation and Parks, phased in over ten years until it is double the current minimum budget allocation, with exceptions for fiscal emergencies?”

Understanding Charter Amendment PRK

The measure would not raise taxes to boost the parks budget — it would use a larger portion of existing tax revenue instead.

Currently, the budget for the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks is 0.0325% of the city’s property tax revenue. That came to about $298 million in fiscal years 2025-2026. Parks also brought in an additional $61 million in self-generated revenue from facilities and programs. The city can allocate more funding, but often doesn’t.

The measure would gradually increase the base percentage for the budget over the next 10 years, until it hits 0.065% in fiscal years 2036-2037. It would allow for a reduction in the event of an official fiscal emergency.

What supporters say 

Supporters say approving the measure would help the city better manage its parks by giving it more resources without raising taxes. They say well-maintained parks boost public health by providing spaces for exercise and recreation and drive the economy by creating jobs and attracting tourists

“These are affordable places for kids to play sports and stay safe after-school and in the summer, for seniors to find services and for families to gather,” a group of supporters said in a letter backing the measure.

The group includes three L.A. city council members, the city controller, the commissioner of the parks and recreation department, and representatives from several organizations including the Boys and Girls Club of San Fernando Valley, the L.A. Neighborhood Land Trust, and the L.A. Conservation Corps.

What opponents say

The city’s fiscal analysts oppose the measure — more on that below — but there is no other opposition on record to the measure. If that changes before Election Day, LAist will update this story.

Potential financial impact

Fiscal analysts have recommended against doubling the parks department budget.

They say doing so without raising additional revenue, even over 10 years, would add to the city’s budget deficit. To balance the books in that scenario, the city would have to either cut other services or find a way to raise more money.

Further reading

• Charter reform commission recommends sweeping changes to city government to rebuild public trust
• Feel a bit crowded at the park? Why L.A. park spaces come up short
• LA needs more and better parks, report finds. The city wants your input on a new plan
• L.A. parks get low marks, but opening schoolyards could improve grades
• L.A. voters could be asked to boost spending on parks. Finding the money comes later
• City leaders are sabotaging parks and nature spots across L.A.
• ‘We’re here every day’: Inside the painstaking effort to heal LA’s troubled MacArthur Park