Mayor Rex Richardson
Budget Recommendations
Presented by Mayor Rex Richardson
Mayor’s Budget Recommendations
As Long Beach’s 29th Mayor, it is my responsibility under the City Charter to review the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 27) Budget and submit recommendations to the City Council and the public. These recommendations have been developed in close partnership with City Manager Tom Modica and reflect the values that have long defined Long Beach: resilience, fiscal responsibility, equity, and an unwavering commitment to the quality of life of our residents.
This year’s budget asks us to make difficult choices. Structural budget pressures, rising costs, and reductions in federal funding have created one of the most challenging fiscal environments our city has faced in years. But difficult moments reveal whether preparation matters. Long Beach prepared and planned ahead.
Over the past several years, we have intentionally expanded our work beyond City Hall, because today’s challenges cannot be solved by local government alone. We have built regional partnerships, secured new funding sources, and advocated for policies that strengthen our city’s long-term fiscal foundation. Those efforts are allowing us to protect essential services, preserve critical jobs, and continue investing in Long Beach’s future, even during a difficult budget year.
That preparation is reflected throughout these recommendations. During my tenure as Chair of the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA), we secured $16 million in dedicated, ongoing funding from LACAHSA and Measure A help prevent homelessness and provide rental assistance to vulnerable families.
Long Beach also planned ahead by supporting the passage of Los Angeles County Measure ER, creating a new funding source to protect critical public health services as federal healthcare funding faces unprecedented uncertainty. Most recently, my election to the Los Angeles County Metro Board of Directors creates new opportunities to strengthen transportation investments, improve traffic safety, and deliver infrastructure improvements that benefit Long Beach residents.
Just as we planned ahead to protect housing, public health, and transportation investments, we also planned ahead for our local economy. The two-year $8.7 million Back to Business Plan adopted last year continues to provide meaningful support for small businesses, business improvement districts, corridor activation to improve safety and address human trafficking, and economic activation activities, through FY27 without requiring additional General Fund resources this year.
These preparations and partnerships do not eliminate every difficult decision before us. This budget still requires meaningful reductions and thoughtful tradeoffs. But because we planned ahead and worked to bring new resources home, we are better positioned to soften the impact of those reductions, protect the services residents rely upon, and continue moving Long Beach forward.
Accordingly, my FY 27 Budget Recommendations are organized around four priorities:
• Protect Jobs and Essential Public Safety Services, ensuring residents continue to receive the emergency response and neighborhood services they depend on.
• Preserve Public Health in the Face of Federal Cuts, leveraging voter-approved Measure ER funding to sustain essential healthcare and safety-net services for our community. • Advance Mobility and Safety for All Road Users, strengthening regional coordination and investing in infrastructure that improves mobility and keeps Long Beach moving safely. 2 3
• Investing in Thriving Neighborhoods, restoring and expanding the neighborhood services, parks, libraries, and community investments that make Long Beach a great place to live.
Budgets are ultimately a reflection of our priorities. This year’s recommendations reflect years of preparation, regional collaboration, and responsible financial stewardship. They acknowledge the fiscal challenges before us while demonstrating that Long Beach planned ahead and is prepared to meet them from a position of strength.
Together, these recommendations chart a responsible path forward that protects our residents today while continuing to invest in the opportunities that will define Long Beach for generations to come, including our preparation for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The recommendations that follow chart a responsible path ahead for the City’s fiscal health, ensuring Long Beach remains well-positioned to weather continued uncertainty in the years to come. Even in a challenging fiscal year, we remain committed to building a city that is safe, healthy, connected, and positioned for a brighter future.
Funding These Investments Responsibly
With the exception of the voter-approved LA County Measure ER funds dedicated to sustaining public health services, the investments and restorations outlined in this budget are not the result of new revenue. They reflect a disciplined effort to evaluate existing allocations, redirect savings where circumstances have changed, and maximize cost recovery from partners who benefit from City services — ensuring these enhancements do not add new structural strain to the General Fund.
• As a result of the successful June 2026 elections for City of Long Beach elected officials, the one-time funding of $1,556,731 requested for the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election is no longer needed. As such, this funding should be reallocated to support critical efforts on a one-time basis outlined in the recommendations.
• Request that the Port of Long Beach close the gap on the cost recovery for services the Fire Department provides by structurally increasing revenue in the General Fund Group by $5,900,000 related to the Fire/ Port Fire Suppression MOU.
• Through the sustained advocacy of the Mayor and the California Big City Mayors Coalition, the State’s Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program was restored to $900,000,000 statewide in the FY 26-27 State Budget, reversing the $500,000,000 level identified in the Governor’s proposed budget. This restoration allows the City to sustain core homelessness response programming in FY 27 without additional General Fund support, even as earlier HHAP rounds reach their statutory expenditure deadlines.
• Voter-approved Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA) Measure A funding provides $10,698,220 to the City in FY 27, with the expenditure plan approved by the City Council on May 19, 2026. These funds support $5,300,000 for affordable housing production, preservation, and ownership; $4,600,000 for renter protections and homelessness prevention, including legal services, emergency rental assistance, and short-term income support; and $768,000 for program design, administration, and evaluation.
• County Measure A Comprehensive Homeless Solutions (Continuum of Care) funding provides $3,900,000 to the City in FY 27, preserved through a Board motion introduced by Supervisors Hahn and Barger after the allocation was proposed for elimination in the County’s initial FY 26-27 budget. These funds sustain time-limited rental subsidies, housing navigation, and housing location services that would otherwise have been lost.
• County Measure A Local Solutions Fund provides $5,023,735 to the City in FY 27, supporting street outreach, interim housing operations including the Atlantic Bridge Community year-round shelter, the Homeless Management Information System, and community crisis response and mental health services.
Taken together, these State and County resources allow the City to soften the impact of cuts to the homelessness response system in FY 27 through external funding and the strategic alignment of grant dollars across programs, rather than through new General Fund commitments.
Public safety remains the foundation of a thriving Long Beach. Over the past three and a half years, the City has 4 I. Protect Jobs and Essential Public Safety Services
recruited and graduated approximately 235 police
officers, cut our vacancy rate in half and graduated
the largest academy class in department history. The
FY 27 Budget builds on that progress with $7 million
in one-time Measure A funding for Police Academy
Class 101, as well as targeted investments to make
key restorations to patrol and emergency response
coverage citywide.
The City Manager’s Proposed Budget includes
reductions that would be felt directly by residents —
from fire engine closures to reduced patrol staffing.
The FY 27 Budget Recommendations make targeted
investments to mitigate these reductions: eliminating
the rotating fire engine closures across general
fund fire stations and restoring 4 Patrol Officer
positions to strengthen coverage across East, North,
South, and West Patrol Divisions. The FY 27 Budget
Recommendations continue to prioritize resources
toward maintaining emergency response and patrol
coverage wherever possible.
In recent years, we have expanded paramedic
resources to unprecedented levels to meet the
evolving needs of the community. This budget
continues that progress by preserving paramedic
staffing levels and ensuring no cuts to paramedic
rescues. Going forward, we will need to continue
to look at innovation and alternate models of
deployment in our fire department to adapt to an
ever-changing need.
As resources become available, I encourage the
Fire Department to work collaboratively with our
firefighters, regional partners, and the County to
develop and evaluate pilot programs and other data-
informed models that match the right resources to the
needs of our community, improve medical response,
preserve emergency response capacity, and build a
more effective and resilient system for the future of
Long Beach.
The recommendations also invest in youth
development and restore vital violence prevention
and immigration legal defense programs and services,
consistent with our Advancing Peace and STRONG
Beach summer youth violence prevention initiatives,
recognizing that upstream violence prevention
and community trust are essential parts of a
comprehensive community safety continuum.
• Police Recruit Academy Class 101: One-time
Measure A funding to advance the next sworn
class ($7 million)
• Increase revenue related to the Fire/Port Fire
Suppression MOU to move closer to cost
recovery for the 63 fire sworn FTEs assigned
to four Fire Stations in the Port of Long Beach
Complex. ($2,742,385)
• Increase the budget to operate Engine 17 with
permanently assigned fire sworn staff. This is
a City Measure A funded item. ($2,172,152 12
FTEs)
• Add one Police Sergeant and four Police Officer
positions to respond to patrol calls in the
Tidelands areas (including the Pike, Convention
Center area, Shoreline, Beach, Bay, and Queen
Mary). (Police) ($1,296,187)
5 Mayor Recommendations:
• Restore $3,827,626 and 12 FTEs in the Fire Department from the City Manager’s proposal to eliminate a second Fire Engine rotating closure.
• Partially restore $950,000 and 4 FTEs in the Police Department from the City Manager’s proposal to eliminate 17 vacant Patrol Officer positions within the East, North, South and West Patrol Divisions.
This restoration will support the department’s ability to increase the buffer to maintain patrol coverage. • Partially restore 2 Quality of Life Police Officers ($305,000 from the General Fund Group and structurally add $305,000 from the Tidelands Fund Group) in the Police Department from the City Manager’s proposal to eliminate a Quality of Life Sergeant and six Quality of Life Police Officers in the Collaborative Response Division.
• Add $400,000 one-time in the General Fund Group in the Police Department to provide overtime funding for the high-crime task force and increased traffic enforcement support. • Add $394,701 one-time in the General Fund Group in the Police Department to provide overtime funding for Quality of Life Police Officers to provide weekly clean up support along the Los Angeles River in partnership with Los Angeles County.
Investing in Youth and Violence Prevention
• One-time funding to support the College Promise – Ambassador Program for local high school students in the Equity Program. This is a Measure US-funded item.
• One-time funding to support the College Promise - Ceremony of Graduates to celebrate the graduating class of College Promise students from middle school, high school, and college in the Equity Program. This is a Measure US-funded item.
• Measure US-funded one-time enhancement (Youth) for Youth Participatory Budgeting to fund community-based organizations to implement youth-led, youth-serving programs. • Measure US-funded enhancement (Youth) - Add a previously unbudgeted Public Health Professional I position that serves as the Youth Development Coordinator structurally. • Measure US-funded one-time enhancement (Youth) to support the Youth Summit. • Increase contract budget with a social service provider with subject matter expertise in interventions with at-risk youth to provide workshops and one- on-one counseling services to help teens who are involved in disruptive and potentially violent situations. This is a Measure US-funded item. 6 Mayor Recommendations:
• Restore $142,727 and 1 FTE in the City Manager’s Office from the City Manager’s proposal to eliminate an Assistant Administrative Analyst III in the Office of Equity, requiring another position to take on all administrative functions for Justice Fund, Language Access, and Office of Equity. This restoration will ensure structural funding is dedicated for the Long Beach Justice Fund. • Add $100,000 structural and $208,910 one-time in the General Fund Group along with the current budget allocation to bring the total funding for the Long Beach Justice Fund to $1,000,000, ensuring our residents have access to legal representation and resources necessary to safeguard their constitutional rights, uphold due process protections, and preserve family unity. • Restore $191,164 and 5.72 FTE in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department from the City’s Manager’s proposal to decrease budget in Community Recreation Services Bureau by reducing the structural funding for BeSAFE program hours at each BeSAFE site and reallocate funding for 5.72 FTE Recreation Leader (RLS) IV and VII positions into materials and supplies to support programming needs.
This will preserve programming at 3 hours at each BeSAFE site. • Partially restore $86,150 and 0.5 FTE in the Health and Human Services Department from the City Manager’s proposal to eliminate a Public Health Professional III in the Office of Veteran Affairs (OVA) and the associated cost to manage the OVA Commission, sunsetting the Commission. • Restore $25,000 in the Parks Recreation and Marine Department from the City Manager’s proposal to reduce budget in Community Recreation Services by offering cultural classes at Homeland Cultural Center 2 times a month, instead of 4 times a month.
• Restore $71,681 and 1.54 FTEs in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department from the City Manager’s proposal to eliminate 1.54 FTE Recreation Leader Non-Career (RLS NC) IV and V positions in the Community Recreation Services Bureau, resulting in reduction of structural funding for the Teen programming at Chavez Park.
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II. Preserve Public Health in the Face of Federal Cuts
Recent federal reductions to healthcare and public
health funding have shifted greater financial
responsibility to state and local governments, placing
essential community health services at risk. Los
Angeles County is projected to lose approximately
$2.4 billion in healthcare funding over the next three
years, making it critical to sustain local public health programs. In Long Beach, Federal funding cuts of
$1.3 million eliminated vital community health and
preventative care services, impacting thousands of
residents.
The passage of Los Angeles County Measure ER
provides an opportunity to help offset these federal
reductions. The measure will support essential public
health services, including chronic disease prevention,
disease surveillance, water safety, and healthcare.
Under the measure, the Long Beach and Pasadena
Health Departments are expected to share 1% of
revenues, allocated based on each department’s share
of core public health spending over the previous five
years. Preliminary estimates indicate Long Beach
could receive approximately $7–8 million, although
final allocations and timing remain uncertain.
Given that uncertainty, I recommend a phased
restoration plan developed with the Health and
Human Services Department. Funding would be
prioritized in four categories: first, restoring Health and Human Services reductions proposed in the FY 27
City Manager’s Proposed Budget; second, sustaining
existing programs facing the loss of grant funding in
FY 27; third, supporting new positions and program
enhancements; and fourth, providing grant match
funding. Initial appropriations would restore the
proposed FY 27 reductions, with recommendations
for remaining funds returning to the City Council
once final allocations and the funding schedule are
confirmed.
Restoring FY 27 Proposed Reductions: $1,718,982
and 12 FTEs
• Allocate $1,718,982 from Measure ER revenue
received by the County of Los Angeles to the
Health Fund Group in the Health and Human
Services Department, to restore proposed
reductions in the City’s Manager’s budget.
• Restore $219,636 and 1 FTE from the City
Manager’s proposal to eliminate a vacant Public
Health Nurse III in the Maternal, Child and
Adolescent Health Program.
• Restore $232,128 and 1 FTE from the City
Manager’s proposal to eliminate a Public Health
Nurse Supervisor in the Nursing Services
Division with duties being absorbed by existing
staff.
• Restore $170,939 and 1 FTE from the City
Manager’s proposal to eliminate a vacant Public
Health Nurse II for the REACH Team in the Homeless Services Bureau, preserving fieldwork capacity and the number of individuals who can be assessed, supported, and connected to housing and health resources.
• Restore $143,114 and 1 FTE from the City Manager’s proposal to eliminate a Counselor II position that serves as one of two Resource Line specialists, providing support to the Homeless Services Bureau. • Restore $133,535 and 1 FTE from the City Manager’s proposal to eliminate a vacant Health Educator II in the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.
• Restore $80,196 and structurally add $80,196 in the General Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department from the City’s Manager’s proposal to eliminate 0.5 FTE Community Program Specialist IV position that supports the implementation of the Early Childhood Strategic Plan. Adding a full position will preserve the program from sunsetting.
• Restore $163,162 and 1 FTE from the City Manager’s proposal to eliminate an Administrative Analyst III in Environmental Health Bureau, supporting processing grant billing. • Restore $112,464 and 1 FTE from the City Manager’s proposal to eliminate a Public Health Associate II in the Medical Billing and Cashier Unit, to not delay billing, invoicing, claim submissions, reimbursement collection and overall revenue optimization.
• Restore $112,464 and 1 FTE from the City Manager’s proposal to eliminate a Public Health Associate II that provides procurement and inventory support to the Community Health Bureau. • Restore $146,334 and 2 FTEs from the City Manager’s proposal to eliminate a vacant Accountant II Non- Career position and a vacant Accounting Clerk III Non-Career position in the Administration and Finance Bureau.
• Restore $124,814 and 1 FTE from the City Manager’s proposal to eliminate an Assistant Administrative Analyst II in Administration and Finance Bureau, allowing to support operations, and reducing delays in addressing employee and organizational matters and ongoing reprioritization of critical issues.
Sustain Existing Services Expected to Lose Funding: $3,202,245 and 14.1 FTEs • Workforce & Organizational Development: continues the Workforce and Organizational Development Officer, a Workforce Evaluation Lead, and a Workforce Specialist as the PHIG A1 grant sunsets, preserving CDPH FoPH and CDC PHIG 2 grant management along with organizational planning, workforce development programs (Public Health Week, mentorship, internships), and administrative support to the Workforce team.
• Clinical & Mandated Programs (Cal-AIM, HIV/STI): continues a Community Program Specialist IV supporting Cal-AIM/Population Health, a mandated role currently filled by only one person, and a Public Health Physician supporting HIV/STI clinical services currently funded through Health Operating funds. • Executive & Administrative Support: continues a Deputy Director and two Administrative Analyst III positions (Finance and HR) as the PHIG grant sunsets, including the Department’s key liaison to the City’s Budget Office for the annual budget process; none of these roles have another funding source. • Vaccine & Medi-Cal Outreach: continues the Vaccine Preventable Disease Coordinator, the only person in this critical education, equity, and outreach role, and two Health Educator II positions supporting Medi-Cal Outreach that are needed for HR1 recertification as grant funding ends. • Health IT & Data Systems: covers annual licensing, maintenance, and support for the Environmental Health data system and the clinical electronic medical records system. • Health Equity & Mental Health: continues the LGBTQIA2S+ Coordinator, whose loss would reduce the Department’s capacity to collect community-specific data and maintain relationships with communities most impacted by health inequities, and restores a Mental Health Program Manager position previously sunset due to loss of grant funding.
9 • Environmental Health Operations: continues the Environmental Health Operations Officer, moving the position off fee revenue and Health Operating funds; this role oversees mandated public health programs. • Older Adults: continues the Older Adults Program Manager as current grant funding sunsets; this position has traditionally been very difficult to fund through grants. • Communications & Public Affairs: continues a Digital Communications Specialist, aligning funding with the position’s job duties and the Department’s communications needs.
New Positions and Program Enhancements: $2,004,438 and 12 FTEs • TB Clinic Expansion: a Nurse Practitioner, an Epidemiologist, and a Disease Investigator to provide direct clinical services for active and latent TB cases and Class B1 immigrants, strengthen disease surveillance and reporting, and lead case investigation and contact tracing. • Environmental Health (Water Quality & Vector): a Water Inspector to maintain compliance with Title 22 and the Clean Water Act ahead of the LA28 Olympic Games, and a Vector Control Specialist II to prevent vector-borne disease transmission; both reduce reliance on costly overtime. • Compliance (HIPAA & Labor Relations): a HIPAA Privacy Coordinator to centralize privacy policy development, implementation, and enforcement department-wide, and an Administrative Analyst III to support increased demand for AB339 compliance and labor/employee relations. • Facilities & Operations Support: a Facilities Officer to provide project management for several new DHHS buildings that currently lack oversight, and a Secretary position for the only bureau that currently lacks dedicated secretarial support.
• Communicable Disease & HIV Investigation: two Communicable Disease Investigators to address a growing volume of community and skilled nursing facility cases and outbreaks, and to begin investigating newly diagnosed HIV cases, reducing the risk of further transmission. • CMAA / Cal-AIM Revenue Program: a CMAA and Cal-AIM Program Administrator to support strategic program expansion and generate additional, more stable revenue; the position’s salary is partially reimbursable through CMAA.
Grant Match Support: $1,074,335
• Non-personnel funding to support required grant match expenses or unexpected loss of funding for mandated core public health services only.
Continuing Upstream LB Investments in Homelessness Prevention In FY 26, Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA) and Los Angeles County Measure A began providing millions in ongoing funding for initiatives like The Long Beach Renter Aid Program, which has so far provided approximately $2.7 million in rental assistance for those experiencing a housing crisis.
We allocated $4.8 million in new LACAHSA funding to the following programs and they will remain funded through FY27:
• Tenant Protection & Legal Defense – $1.6 million: Established the City’s largest-ever capacity for the Tenant Right to Counsel Program utilizing carried-over funds and new FY 26 LACAHSA dollars provided legal aid and education for those facing eviction.
• Seniors & Vulnerable families – approximately $1 million: Delivered LACAHSA and County Measure A shallow rental subsidies to keep rent-burdened seniors on fixed incomes, immigrant families, and households impacted by federal benefit cuts stably housed. 10 • Transition Age Youth Support– approximately $500,000: Provided flexible financial assistance to youth exiting foster care or institutional settings to ensure stable transitions into housing and employment. • Flexible Rental Assistance – approximately $1.7 million: Directed Measure A funds toward flexible prevention programs, including regional partnership initiatives like the Long Beach Housing Promise.
In FY 27, I recommend expanding this program’s impact by utilizing already existing partnerships with community-based organizations to create a referral program aimed to better allocate relief funds to renters in need.
New Investments in Affordable Housing
Through partnership with the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and program support from LACAHSA, invests nearly $6.5 million in new resources to implement a second round of Backyard Builders ADU loan program and support new affordable housing development across Long Beach.
This includes $4.8 million from HCD for Backyard Builders, $315,000 from LACAHSA for Backyard Builders, and $1.3 million from HCD from the Prohousing Incentive Program for affordable housing predevelopment support. 11 III. Advancing Mobility & Safety for All Road Users
As Long Beach continues to grow and prepares to welcome the world for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, ensuring safe, efficient, and well-coordinated transportation and traffic infrastructure has never been more important. The FY 27 Budget Recommendations strengthen the City’s regional transportation partnerships while reaffirming and building on the FY27 proposed investments in traffic safety, signal operations, and neighborhood traffic calming.
Transportation
As a newly elected Director on the Los Angeles County Metro Board, it is an elevated priority and focus to ensure transportation keeps pace with Long Beach’s growth, strengthens our connections to jobs and opportunity across the region, and positions our city for success as a host city for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
With this election comes funding to ensure dedicated oversight and coordination on transportation. This also allows us to actively improve Long Beach’s connectivity to the broader region. • Add $170,755.41 in the General Fund Group in the Mayor’s Office for a Metro-funded Transportation Deputy to focus on intergovernmental relations, partnering on branding and planning efforts for the Public Works Department’s traffic and mobility programs, helping secure additional outside funding, and most importantly helping to convene and support experts from the City, Long Beach Transit and Port of Long Beach to coordinate with regional transportation partners, to direct more resources and support to the region.
• Recommend the City Manager initiate a regional effort in partnership with Metro to explore and establish a direct MetroLink connection between Long Beach and Los Angeles Union Station, positioning Long Beach as a direct gateway to California’s future High-Speed Rail system while improving regional mobility, airport access, and economic competitiveness.
Traffic and Pedestrian Safety
To place a greater focus on traffic and pedestrian safety in Long Beach, the FY 27 Proposed Budget establishes a new Traffic Safety Division within Public Works, consolidated with the existing Traffic Engineering and Traffic Operations Divisions under the Transportation Services Bureau. This expands staffing by 7 positions plus 5 customer service support roles, funded by Automated Speed Enforcement Program revenue, to streamline coordination and strengthen the Department’s response to neighborhood traffic calming, quick-build safety improvements, and Vision Zero initiatives.
• Streetlights: $436,247 increase and 3 new FTEs (two Traffic Signal Technicians, one Equipment Operator III), creating a dedicated crew to accelerate the conversion of streetlights from LED to solar. • Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) & Neighborhood Services staffing: adds a Traffic Safety Officer, two Capital Project Coordinator IIs, and a Clerk Typist III in the Traffic Safety Division ($636,652 combined General Fund/Capital Projects Fund, 4.0 FTEs) to support the ASE and Neighborhood Services Programs; two additional Clerk Typist IIIs to support the ASE Program ($179,183, 2.0 FTEs, Capital Projects Fund, offset by future ASE revenue); and an Assistant Administrative Analyst II to provide administrative and customer service support in the Traffic Engineering Division ($124,813 combined, 1.0 FTE). 12 • Traffic engineering capacity: adds a Traffic Engineer to oversee the traffic management center, monitor signal system performance, and address hardware/software vulnerabilities ($199,170, 1.0 FTE, Capital Projects Fund); a Traffic Engineer in the Corridors & Special Projects Division to oversee standalone traffic signal capital projects and advance Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) initiatives ($199,208 combined,
1.0 FTE); and a Traffic Engineering Associate I, with an upgraded Traffic Engineering Technician I, to support the Neighborhood Services Program ($217,978, 1.6 FTEs, primarily Capital Projects Fund). • Traffic sign replacement: adds seven Maintenance Assistant IIs and a Street Maintenance Supervisor I in the Traffic Operations Division to assess and replace regulatory and warning traffic signs citywide, fully funded by Caltrans Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grants ($697,617, 8.0 FTEs). • Smart Loading Zone Enforcement: adds a Parking Control Checker II and a Parking Control Supervisor, plus associated enforcement vehicles and operating costs, fully offset by $425,000 in program revenue.
The Transportation Services Bureau is advancing a Smart Loading Zone program in the FY 27 Proposed Budget that will deploy camera-based monitoring at 43 loading zones in and around downtown Long Beach to verify compliance with Long Beach Municipal Code time limits and designated-use requirements. This data-driven, needs-based approach is intended to protect the integrity of the commercial loading network, improve safety conditions for cyclists and adjacent road users, and ensure that the City’s most premium curb spaces are used for their designated purpose.
13 IV. Investing in Thriving Neighborhoods
A thriving Long Beach is one where every neighborhood has access to the parks, programs, and public spaces that make the city a great place to call home. The FY 27 Budget Recommendations restore or enhance recreation, library, and cultural programming reduced in the City Manager’s Proposed Budget, and make targeted investments to keep public spaces safe, clean, and welcoming for residents and visitors alike. • Median maintenance: $1.485 million increase to fund weed abatement, water utility costs, irrigation repair, truck support, and fencing repair across the City’s medians and backlots. • One-time funding of $150,000 for the Urban Forest Plan Implementation, offset by Assembly Bill (AB 32) Cap and Trade revenue.
• Median and Parkway Trees Program: $31,353 to upgrade a position in Public Works’ Public Service Bureau to create an equity-based program to offer rebates to residents on a sliding scale if they want to participate in trimming their trees more frequently than the cycle permits • Increase budget for annual cost for increased area of responsibility of approximately 2.7 acres of environmentally sensitive habitat in Colorado Lagoon East/West Bank. (Parks, Recreation & Marine) • One-time funding in the Marine Bureau for the purchase of Flip Screen Bucket Attachment for existing City equipment to support debris and sand separation operations, improving overall efficiency and cost effectiveness following heavy storm events along the beachfront. (Parks, Recreation & Marine) Mayor Recommendations
• Add structural funds in the amount of $50,000 in the General Fund Group in the Library, Arts and Culture Department to support library programming and materials budget. • Restore the budget for the Rancho Los Alamitos and Rancho Los Cerritos management fees proposed in the City Manager’s budget by replacing the Musica Angelica program within the Measure B allocation and direct the Utilities Department to explore opportunities to support Ranchos utilities. • Partner and coordinate with Partners of Parks to fundraise $35,694 in order to restore 0.8 FTE in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department from the City Manager’s proposal to eliminate 0.8 FTE of Recreation Leader Non-Career (RLS NC) IV and VII positions in the Community Recreation Services Bureau, resulting in closing the Nature Center Museum on Tuesdays. • Add $50,000 one-time in the General Fund Group in the Economic Development and Opportunity Department to continue support for Westside Promise to build upon the progress achieved through the original scope of work by strengthening organizational capacity, increasing access to funding opportunities, fostering cross-sector partnerships, and advancing community health and environmental justice initiatives in Westside Long Beach.
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16 Renew ‘32: Continuing Our Commitment to Long Beach’s Infrastructure Beyond 2028 As Elevate ‘28 enters its final year, Long Beach is nearing completion of the most ambitious infrastructure investment program in our city’s history. Launched to prepare Long Beach for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games while addressing decades of deferred maintenance, Elevate ’28 has delivered transformative investments in streets, parks, public facilities, mobility, and neighborhood infrastructure throughout our city.
But our commitment to investing in Long Beach does not end in 2028.
At my 2026 State of the City Address, I called for the development of Renew ’32, the City’s next five-year infrastructure investment strategy. Renew ’32 reflects a simple principle: maintaining and modernizing our infrastructure must be a long-term commitment, not a one-time initiative. By continuing to invest in the assets residents rely on every day, we strengthen public safety, improve mobility, support economic growth, and protect taxpayers from the higher costs of deferred maintenance.
Even in a more challenging fiscal environment, Renew ’32 demonstrates our commitment to protecting the long-term investments that residents rely on every day. The proposed program is expected to invest approximately $250 million in mobility and safety infrastructure over the next five years, spanning every neighborhood in Long Beach. The preliminary pavement program includes improvements to approximately 737 lane miles of arterial and residential streets, alleys, and pavement preservation treatments, ensuring we continue making meaningful progress while responsibly managing limited resources.
Together, Elevate ’28 and Renew ‘32 represent a decade of sustained investment in Long Beach’s future. Over ten years, the City will have improved more than 1,700 lane miles of streets and roadway infrastructure while continuing to leverage regional, state, and federal partnerships to maximize every local dollar invested.
The map that follows illustrates the preliminary Renew ’32 street improvement program. While the program will continue to be refined as funding is finalized and community input is received, one commitment remains unchanged: every neighborhood deserves safe, reliable, and well-maintained infrastructure. Renew ‘32 ensures that Long Beach will continue building on the momentum of Elevate ‘28, protecting the investments we’ve made, and delivering the infrastructure improvements that will support our city’s growth well beyond 2028. 17 Protecting and Activating Our Coastline
Long Beach’s coastline is one of our city’s greatest assets. It is where residents gather, visitors experience our city, and our visitor economy comes to life. A vibrant waterfront supports local businesses, creates jobs, and generates revenues that benefit residents across Long Beach.
The Tidelands Operating Fund exists to ensure that revenues generated along our coastline are reinvested back into our waterfront. While a significant portion of the fund has historically been supported by oil revenues, those revenues are inherently volatile and will continue to evolve over time. This year’s projected $4 million operating surplus, combined with $8.6 million in previously identified savings, provides $12.6 million to make strategic investments that strengthen the long-term vitality of our coastline.
These recommendations invest in transportation, infrastructure, public safety, and beautification projects that improve the experience for residents while creating a safer, more accessible, and more welcoming waterfront. As Long Beach prepares to welcome the world for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, these improvements will ensure our coastline is ready for the opportunities ahead.
More importantly, these investments help position our waterfront as an even stronger economic engine for the future. By enhancing the places that attract residents and visitors alike, we are supporting tourism, local businesses, and the economic activity that helps sustain city services throughout Long Beach.
Transportation, Mobility, and Access Improvements
• Ocean Boulevard Resurfacing and Mobility Improvements – $3.5 million • Transportation, Mobility, and Wayfinding Improvements – $1.0 million • Shoreline Transportation Hub – $350,000
• Bike Path Resurfacing and Repair – $350,000
• Queen Mary Wayfinding – $300,000
• Convention Center Walkway Improvements – $150,000
Infrastructure and Facility Improvements
• Submarine Removal Planning and Design – $1.0 million
• Queen Mary / Pier H Improvements – $750,000
• Belmont Pier Repairs – $500,000
• Rainbow Harbor Improvements – $500,000
• Naples Sea Walls Construction – $500,000
• Parking Garage Study for the Queen Mary District – $500,000 Public Safety and Operational Enhancements
• Olympic Volunteer Support Program – $750,000
• Venue Wi-Fi and Security Cameras – $500,000
• Mobile Lighting and Camera Improvements – $350,000
• Public Health Lab Water Quality Testing Enhancements – $350,000 • Enforcement of Upstream Cities Trash Compliance - $200,000 Beautification and Public Realm Improvements
• City Beautification in Coastal Areas – $900,000
• Bench Replacement and Restoration – $50,000
18 Accelerating the Growth and Diversification of the Long Beach Economy Nearly four years ago, we launched Grow Long Beach to strengthen our city’s fiscal future by diversifying our economy. By focusing on high-growth industries such as aerospace, advanced manufacturing, tourism, and goods movement, we have attracted leading innovators, created more than 4,000 high-paying jobs, and are on track to reach 8,000 new jobs by 2028.
That economic momentum has positioned Long Beach to fully capitalize on the historic 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. As a venue city for 18 Olympic and Paralympic sports, we will welcome the world’s attention. But our focus extends far beyond the Games themselves. We are making generational investments in infrastructure and economic development that will strengthen our city, create lasting opportunity, and deliver benefits for residents long after the closing ceremonies.
Grow Long Beach and 2028 Olympic Preparation
• One-time funding to support communication and marketing efforts in support of the City’s business attraction, expansion, and retention activities.
• One-time funding to advance the citywide Long Beach Vibe City advertising and branding initiative, in partnership with Visit Long Beach.
• One-time funding for Long Beach Walls and community art murals. • One-time funding for the Communications Committee Budget for 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in the Office of Public Affairs & Communications.
Mayor’s Recommendations
• Recommend that the City Manager launch an Acceler8 by ’28 infrastructure delivery team to fast-track key infrastructure projects in advance of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Long Beach, including, ° Public art, cultural and legacy projects,
° Mobility and accessibility related projects
° Revenue generating ideas, including the establishment of a digital advertising district. • Recommend that the City Manager accelerate planning and stakeholder engagement efforts for the redevelopment of Pier H and Shoreline Drive, with a goal of releasing a public solicitation by the 2028 games. 19
V. Looking Ahead
Strengthening Long-Term Fiscal Stability
This budget marks a turning point in Long Beach’s fiscal recovery. Rather than simply balancing another challenging budget, these recommendations begin addressing the structural deficit that has persisted since the COVID-19 pandemic, fully addressing the economic turmoil created by the Administration over the past year, and put the City on a path toward long-term fiscal sustainability.
As illustrated below, Long Beach is projected to continue narrowing its structural deficit over the next two fiscal years. The remaining FY 2028 shortfall is expected to be offset by new Measure A revenues approved by Long Beach voters. If these projections hold, Long Beach will achieve its first significant and sustained structural surplus in more than a decade by 2028, positioning the City to make strategic investments while strengthening its long-term financial health.
General Fund Surplus / (Shortfall) in $ Millions
FY 28
Projection
FY 29
Projection
FY 30
Projection
FY 31
Projection
FY 32
Projection
Surplus/(Shortfall)* (27.3) 2.3 0.4 7.1 2.4
Effect to FY28 if Measure A were
applied to existing General Fund
expenditures**
(3.9) 2.3 0.4 7.1 2.4
* This chart assumes that any shortfalls are structurally solved each year ** City Measure A returns to 1% in FY28. This projection includes use of additional City Measure A funds towards General Fund expenses to relieve the General Fund’s deficit and maintain current public safety services. This projection uses an estimated $23.4 million from City Measure A in FY28.
Achieving structural balance is only part of the work. Maintaining a strong financial foundation also requires rebuilding City reserves, growing and diversifying revenues, and ensuring Long Beach is prepared to weather future economic uncertainty while continuing to deliver the high-quality services residents expect.
As the City implements SB 707, the City Council should also identify operational efficiencies that streamline Council meetings while preserving meaningful public participation. Any ongoing savings achieved through those efficiencies may be redirected by the City Council toward additional community priorities in future budgets, ensuring that improved public access and responsible fiscal stewardship go hand in hand. 20 Long Term Focus on Reserve Replenishment
The FY27 proposed budget-balancing solutions deliberately establish an operating reserve allocation of $9,800,000 to address drawdowns of City reserves in FY 25 and 26. To uphold the importance of the City’s fiscal policies to ensure long-term financial stability, protect essential public services and practice responsible budgeting, add an additional $200,000 one-time from the General Fund Group to bring the total reserve replenishment allocation to $10,000,000.
Recognizing that a single-year allocation does not fully restore the reserve levels contemplated by the City’s fiscal policies, direct the City Manager to prioritize reserve replenishment in future budgets as the General Fund returns to structural surplus, specifically, in any year in which year-end performance produces a General Fund surplus.
Supporting Council Priorities and Effective Public Engagement These recommendations also provide the City Council with additional flexibility during budget deliberations by setting aside one-time resources that may be directed toward community priorities and budget restorations.
At the same time, funding is provided to support implementation of SB 707 and expand public access to City Council meetings before the October 1 start of the fiscal year.
As the City implements SB 707, the City Council should also identify operational efficiencies that streamline Council meetings while preserving meaningful public participation. Any ongoing savings achieved through those efficiencies may be redirected by the City Council toward additional community priorities in future budgets, ensuring that improved public access and responsible fiscal stewardship go hand in hand. • Establish $303,120 one-time dollars from the General Fund Group for utilization by the Budget Oversight Committee and City Council to further community priorities and budget restorations on a one-time basis.
• Add $150,632 structural in the General Fund Group in the City Clerk’s Department to further support SB 707 implementation to ensure greater access to public meetings (may be redirected toward community priorities and budget restorations, if meeting operational efficiencies are adopted by the City Council prior to October 1.)
The FY27 Mayor’s Recommendations, taken as a whole, restore or add a total of 65.66 critical positions, protecting essential city services while putting Long Beach on a path toward long-term structural balance.
This is in addition to the 12 new positions in the new Public Works Traffic Safety Division. As the City Council considers amendments to the proposed budget, I remain committed to working collaboratively to address community priorities.
At the same time, we cannot lose sight of the fiscal progress reflected in these recommendations. Any action that increases the City’s structural deficit by adding recurring expenditures without an identified sustainable and equitable offset, undermines that progress and jeopardize our long-term financial stability. Accordingly, I intend to exercise my line-item veto authority for any budget amendment that expands the City’s structural deficit without a corresponding structural, sustainable, and equitable funding source. 21 22
For more information on the budget visit: longbeach.gov/finance To request this information in an alternative format or to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Financial Management at 562.570.6090. A minimum of three (3) business days is requested to ensure availability. Reasonable attempts will be made to accommodate request made within less than three (3) business days. 23