Karen Bass offers a status quo budget — with an ironic surprise

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Karen Bass offers a status quo budget — with an ironic surprise

You might think that LA had no wildfires, no homeless problem, and no Olympic Games to stage, given how uninspiring Mayor Karen Bass’s 2026-27 budget proposal was on Monday.

Bass’ $15 billion budget was described as maintaining the status quo, or “treading water.”

Bass offered a modest increase to the fire department, which will receive 40 more firefighters and a total of $940 million. 

That’s $40 million more than was budgeted last year, though $60 million less than was actually spent in the wake of last year’s fires.

The mayor failed to mention the LAFD in her press conference until a reporter brought it up. The fires are an afterthought.

Curiously, as The California Post reported, just under $800 million will be spent on homeless services. 

That’s more than $150 million less than last year — not because the city is solving homelessness, but because — surprise! — the mayor’s pet program, Inside........

© New York Post