Today, the City of Long Beach unveiled its $3 billion budget proposal for fiscal year 2022 with no additional budget cuts, no deficits and replenished reserves.
Last year, losses and additional costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic siphoned nearly all of the City’s emergency reserves and put a dent in last year’s budget, which was plugged by budget cuts and furloughs.
Though the City will continue to feel the impacts of the pandemic for years to come, the fiscal year 2022 budget is “very much like last year’s budget with minor modifications,” Mayor Robert Garcia said during a Friday briefing.
Both state and federal entities pumped the City’s coffers with stimulus funds this past year—including nearly $249 million for the Long Beach Recovery Act. The funds will tide the City over for one year, giving staff an opportunity to strategize and come up with solutions for dealing with shortfalls expected in fiscal year 2023.
Here’s what the City proposed in its budget:
The Long Beach Recovery Act
Economic Recovery ($64 million)
- COVID-19 protection for businesses and non-profits: $13 million
- Direct business support: $20.6 million
- Economic inclusion: $7.6 million
- Clean Long Beach initiative: $4 million
- Technical assistance: $500,000
- Economic stability: $1.6 million
- Micro/Public transit pilot: $1.6 million
- Airport assistance: $15.1 million
Healthy and Safe Community ($108.5 million)
- Public Health COVID-19 response: $15.7 million
- Basic needs, including food security and older adult supports: $6.3 million
- Physical and mental health equity: $12.1 million
- Early childhood education and childcare supports: $2.8 million
- Violence prevention and safe cities: $3.6 million
- Support for people experiencing homelessness: $10.9 million
- Housing support: $56.4 million
- Language access: $500,000
- Long Beach Justice Fund supports: $300,000
Securing our City’s Financial Future ($76.7 million)
This money will be used to restore the City’s depleted operating and emergency reserves. To resolve a projected fiscal year 2022 shortfall of $30 million, these funds will help balance the budget using one-time Long Beach Recovery Act funds (American Rescue Plan Act federal funds will pay for specific City services).
Though Garcia stressed the similarity of this year’s budget to last, the City has proposed “critical and strategic investments” in the proposed budget. These include:
General Fund
- Elections and redistricting one-time funding needed for the primary election in FY 22 and the independent redistricting commission work ($2.18 million).
- Funding previous commitments such as the new Wrigley Greenbelt ($60,000), maintenance and programming for the new Lincoln Park ($621,000), funding for regular mandates and budget neutral department reorganizations.
- Fire Department diversity recruitment one-time funding support to continue fostering diversity in the Fire Department ($250,000).
- Diversity recruitment, mentorship and partnership program in the Police Department to foster a workforce that reflects the diverse community, offset within the Department’s budget ($220,000).
Measure US
The budget includes Measure US-funded enhancements using additional oil barrel revenue via a voter-approved tax, which the City Council has designated through a resolution for the priority areas of children and youth, community health and climate change programs.
- Youth Fund ($917,636): Development of a City Council directed Youth Fund—a designation of Measure US funding that creates significant investment in youth, informed by the strategic plan, the reconciliation plan and other youth planning efforts. Investments include direct youth community-based grants; support for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Ecosystem programming at libraries; mental health programming for youth between the ages of 13 and 18; an annual Long Beach Youth Festival/Summit; and youth related communications, grants and data management efforts.
- Community Health ($154,535): Investments into community health and equity efforts including support for the Older Adult Program and intergenerational approaches to learning and growing; and staff support to support racial equity efforts, training and capacity building.
- Climate ($243,029): Enhancements for climate change work including support for a Field Work program for expanded neighborhood tree planting and urban agriculture support; community-based organization grants for farms, community and teaching gardens and tools; and development of an Electric Lawn Equipment program as outlined in the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.
Measure A
- Continued support of all past restorations, including public safety maintenance and administrative support.
- Funding to keep Engine 17 in service for FY 22 in the Fire Department; previously funded only through FY 21 ($2.5 million).
- Funding support for the Neighborhood Safe Streets Initiative in the Police Department ($2.2 million).
- Funding for Public Safety Replacement Lease Costs ($13.6 million).
- Support for Community Hospital ($1 million).
- Funding for compliance with ADA sidewalk and curb-cut requirements as well as past commitments and funding for Police and Fire Academy buildings and other infrastructure ($20.8 million).
The City Council will hold the first of several budget hearings on Tuesday, July 20, at 5 p.m. to begin the budget review process.
The Budget Oversight Committee will meet in August to review the budget and provide recommendations to the full City Council.
The proposed budget will go through review and ultimate approval by the City Council with any modifications as they deliberate and take additional input on the City’s spending plan for the next fiscal year.
City residents are invited to attend community budget meetings throughout July and August. All meetings will have two interpreters each in Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog. Anyone who needs ADA accommodations, including ASL interpretation, should call the City at (562) 570-6465 at least 72 hours in advance.
The schedule is as follows:
- Tuesday, July 27, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Mark Twain Neighborhood Library (1401 E. Anaheim St.)
- Thursday, July 29, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at El Dorado Park West Community Center (2800 Studebaker Rd.)
- Thursday, Aug. 12, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.)
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