Los Angeles’ budget is in the spotlight as multiple wildfires rage around the city amid revelations that Mayor Karen Bass slashed the fire department’s budget last year while prioritizing spending on the city’s homeless population.
For the 2023-2024 fiscal year, Los Angeles budgeted $837 million for the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), which was roughly 65% the size of the homeless budget of $1.3 billion.
Fire Chief complained to the LA Mayor last month about budget cuts limiting her dept. The funds were diverted to help migrants *** pic.twitter.com/BHp5hh3gVw
— The_Real_Fly (@The_Real_Fly) January 9, 2025
An analysis by L.A.’s city comptroller last year found that roughly half the budget for homelessness went unspent.


