The Brief

Los Angeles City Council Approves $13 Billion Budget with Unprecedented Investment in Homelessness

The Los Angeles City Council has approved Mayor Karen Bass's $13 billion budget, allocating a historic $1.3 billion to combat homelessness.

In a decisive move to address the city's homelessness crisis, the Los Angeles City Council has approved Mayor Karen Bass's proposed $13 billion budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The budget includes a groundbreaking $1.3 billion investment aimed at providing comprehensive solutions for the homeless population. The approved budget allocates $250 million to the "Inside Safe" program, a citywide initiative designed to transition unhoused Angelenos into stable housing. This program has already facilitated the relocation of approximately 1,200 individuals from encampments into motels and hotels, with plans to expand its reach significantly. Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, Chair of the Budget, Finance, and Innovation Committee, emphasized the budget's focus on public safety and homelessness. "This budget reflects our values and invests in the most critical needs of our city," Blumenfield stated. The budget also addresses public safety by proposing the hiring of 400 new police officers, aiming to restore the Los Angeles Police Department's staffing levels to 9,500. This initiative includes efforts to recruit retired officers to return to active duty, ensuring a swift response to the city's safety needs. Despite the budget's approval, some council members expressed concerns about the allocation of funds. Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez voted against the budget, citing the disproportionate spending on the police department compared to other essential services. "We are celebrating moving pennies around, while we put a quarter of our entire budget into just one department," Hernandez remarked. The budget also includes a $150 million expenditure plan for funds raised by Measure ULA, a "mansion tax" approved by voters in November. This plan directs funds to programs such as emergency rental assistance, eviction defense, and affordable housing production, marking the first specific allocation of these funds since the tax's passage. The approval of this budget signifies a concerted effort by city leaders to tackle homelessness and enhance public safety, reflecting a commitment to addressing the city's most pressing challenges.

Why it matters

The budget's unprecedented investment in homelessness aims to provide stable housing for thousands of Angelenos.
The proposed increase in police staffing seeks to enhance public safety and community trust.
The allocation of "mansion tax" funds to housing programs addresses the city's affordable housing crisis.

ℹ️ Researched and summarized from public reporting. Check the sources below.

Sources

Bass' $250-million budget proposal for homelessness program clears a key council hurdle (2026) | LA Times Mirror — latimes.pages.dev
Mayor Bass signs Los Angeles City budget | Mayor Karen Bass — mayor.lacity.gov
L.A. mayor's budget seeks more cops, more homeless programs - Los Angeles Times — latimes.com
City Council OKs Bass' $13.1-billion budget - Los Angeles Times — latimes.com
As challenges loom, L.A. City Council approves $150 million in ‘mansion tax’ spending (2026) | LA Times Mirror — latimes.pages.dev
"City Council approves Bass Budget With unprecedented investment to confront homelessness" — Mayor Karen Bass
CBS LA Inglewood Voters Forum — YouTube · CBS LA
City Council - 5PM 10/13/2026 — YouTube · City of Sacramento
Gov Me Something to Believe In — YouTube · LA Podcast
Los Angeles City Attorney Candidate Townhall. September 17, 2026 — YouTube · LACBA

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