By ANUSHA SHANKAR, City News Service
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted supplemental changes to the county’s 2024-25 budget on Tuesday, Oct. 8, increasing the total spending plan to $49.2 billion.
County CEO Fesia Davenport presented her recommended budget updates to the board, adding roughly $3.5 billion to the $45.6 billion spending plan that was approved on June 24.
Davenport said a large chunk of the additional money is from unspent funds carried over from fiscal year 2023-24, while about $800 million in new revenue comes from state and federal funding. Only about $16.5 million of the additional spending was locally generated from taxes, she said.
A total of 515 new positions were added, with 204 positions in Department of Social Services, 120 in the Department of Health Services and some in the departments of Mental Health, Public Health and Youth Development.
Additional financial commitments included funding for mental health beds, parks and recreation, supporting gender-based violence programs, domestic violence support services, immigrant and refugee support programs and efforts to eliminate medical debt.
Davenport stressed the county’s continued priority for expanding the county’s justice reform initiatives, as well as housing and homelessness, mental health services and public safety.
Another $102.4 million in one-time funding was allocated for Care First and Community Investment programs from unspent funds from the previous fiscal year, bringing the category to $626.4 million.
Supervisors Hilda Solis and Holly Mitchell touched on the importance of funding justice care programs, community support and public infrastructure initiatives, including improvements to parks and recreation.
“I applaud the $2 million allocated to curb illegal dumping, which will go a long way to help Antelope Valley communities,” Barger said in a statement after the vote. “North County residents in particular are suffering from this pollution which has reached crisis proportions and deserve environmental justice. This illegal activity must be stopped in its tracks.”
Davenport again highlighted the potential liability facing the county from Child Victims Act claims under AB 218, which extended the statute of limitations for filing such damages claims.
“There are stark fiscal realities created by thousands of AB 218 sexual abuse claims that’ll undoubtedly place big demands on the county’s budget,” Barger said in her statement. “It’s critical that we continue spending responsibly, living within our means while still doing right by victims.”
Board of Supervisors Chair Lindsey Horvath said she was “happy” the budget invested in expanding psychiatric help, mobile mental health teams and after-hours response.
“Whether it’s homelessness response, a care-focused justice model or assistance to our young people and families, more mental health response teams working more hours will ultimately save lives,” Horvath said.
The adoption of the supplemental budget is the final phase of the annual budgeting process for the county.
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