Long Beach City Council members voted Tuesday night to adopt the city’s FY27 budget, a roughly $4 billion spending plan that trims a number of municipal positions and services. The vote passed 7-2, with Councilmembers Cindy Allen and Kristina Duggan casting the only dissenting votes.
Budget shortfall and job reductions
The city entered the budgeting process facing a $58.2 million structural General Fund deficit. Early proposals called for eliminating about 483 positions – 220 vacant and 263 filled – though later revisions restored some roles before the final vote.
Among the cuts are reductions across the Police Department, Fire Department, homelessness services, parks and recreation, and Public Works. The most visible loss is the elimination of Fire Engine 14, a unit that served East Long Beach. Fire officials warned that removing the engine could force surrounding stations to cover its calls, potentially lengthening response times.
What was saved
Despite the reductions, council members highlighted several victories. Monday library hours were preserved, and four threatened police Quality‑of‑Life officer positions were restored. The budget also allocates funds to upgrade three nearby fire engines to PAU capability, enhancing their ability to respond to medical emergencies.
Council concerns over process
Councilmember Kristina Duggan, whose district includes Station 14, voiced strong opposition to the removal of the engine and criticized the compressed timeline for reviewing the budget. “The full council has only part of a day to review significant changes before being asked to adopt the budget tonight,” Duggan said, adding that she did not have adequate time to share proposals with her constituents.
Councilmember Cindy Allen, a member of the Budget Oversight Committee, echoed those concerns, describing the process as “11th hour.” She noted that many recommendations arrived only minutes before the committee meeting, leaving little opportunity for thorough review. “I’m definitely not gonna rubber stamp a $4 billion budget when I’ve only had minutes to review,” Allen said.
Parking‑citation proposal sparks debate
A late‑stage proposal to raise several parking citations to $100 generated additional controversy. Allen called the fee “predatory,” arguing it would burden working‑class families already struggling with rent, groceries, and gasoline. Duggan emphasized that citations should aim to change behavior, not serve as a revenue source.
Public Works Director Josh Hickman provided data on the distribution of existing citations. In FY25, the city issued roughly 200,000 street‑sweeping citations, with District 2 accounting for 21% of the total. For other parking‑enforcement citations, District 1 alone represented 36% of the 100,000+ tickets issued.
Mayor’s perspective
Mayor Rex Richardson urged council members to move forward, acknowledging the fiscal constraints but also noting the jobs and services that were preserved. “Let’s land this plane,” he said, emphasizing the need to finalize the budget while recognizing the difficult trade‑offs.
Looking ahead
The council’s decision reflects the challenging balance between fiscal responsibility and maintaining essential services. While the budget cuts have sparked concern among council members and residents, the city has taken steps to mitigate impacts, such as upgrading fire engines and protecting key public‑safety positions. The long‑term financial sustainability of emergency response and other city services remains a focus for future discussions.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
