The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a heftier $49.2 billion budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year, as reported by Daily News. This revised budget includes a $3.5 billion increase from the initial amount endorsed in June and will finance a range of county-wide efforts from mental health services to combating the environmental blight of illegal dumping.
According to the Chief Executive Office, local income from property and sales tax did realize a marginally higher assessment roll forecast, climbing modestly to 4.85%, which is meant to boost the budget with additional revenue. However, it's the unspent funds from the prior fiscal year that make up for the larger slice of the pie, about 60%, to be exact.
County CEO Fesia Davenport was focal in explaining that the new spending includes support for essential services such as 515 new positions spread across Social Services, Health Services, Mental Health, Public Health, and Youth Development departments. In her statement obtained by Daily News, Davenport emphasized the ongoing commitment to justice reform, housing and homelessness issues, mental health services, and public safety.
An additional $102.4 million of one-time funding for Care First and Community Investment programs is also being allocated, surpassing previous investments and reinforcing Supervisors Solis and Mitchell's emphasis on funding justice care, community support, and public infrastructure initiatives. Despite this inflow, Supervisor Kathryn Barger stressed in a statement found on her official website the gravity of fiscal prudence especially in light of the financial impact posed by numerous AB 218 sexual abuse claims.
