Long Beach, CA – On Tuesday, August 24, the Long Beach City Council voted to adopt the City of Long Beach’s balanced, $3 billion budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022.
“Our 2022 budget is balanced, responsible and reflects the city’s strong recovery from this historic economic and public health crisis,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “The budget adopted unanimously by our City Council includes no cuts, no deficit, replenishes our reserves and positions Long Beach to continue building back stronger than ever.”
Long Beach is a full-service city and prides itself on providing a variety of resources and services to the community, including the provision and improvement of affordable housing; support for economic development and business assistance; the overall continuum of public safety and emergency medical response; a comprehensive homelessness response; maintenance of safe, clean and accessible parks and facilities; and support for infrastructure and livability improvements. The FY 22 budget maintains these services at the FY 21 level, made possible through the support of federal funds.
“Long Beach remains committed to delivering the best programs and services, said City Manager Tom Modica. “I am proud of the City team for creating a balanced budget that addresses the city’s most critical priorities. I am grateful to every department and employee for meeting the moment and to the City Council for their dedication and hard work.”
The adopted budget includes:
- Approval of the Long Beach Recovery Act, funding $249.3 million in major economic, public health and fiscal initiatives for Long Beach residents, business owners and workers critically impacted by the pandemic. The programs adopted by City Council include:
- $64.0 million for Economic Recovery that focuses resources on residents and business most impacted by the pandemic
- $108.5 million for Healthy and Safe Community that invests resources in basic mental and physical health needs of the community, and
- $76.7 million for Security our City’s Financial Future that allows the City to maintain and provide services in the current (FY 21) and upcoming year (FY 22) as well as provide for the restoration of depleted operating and emergency reserves adversely impacted by the pandemic
- $1.3 million of 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. Changes from the proposed budget allocations include the following:
- Add $457,337 to the Community Based Grants for Youth Development bringing the total from the $216,134 allocated in the proposed budget to $673,471
- The funding will come from reallocating the Youth Ambassador Program funding of $337,337 and the Field Work Program funding for youth workers and trainees of $120,000, which are anticipated to be funded by the State grants for youth employment and workforce development
- With this change, the total category of Youth Fund funding will be $1,037,636 (originally $917,636) and the category of Climate Change will be $123,029 (originally $243,029)
- Additionally, any Measure US revenues that come in higher than projected at year-end will be allocated to the Community Based Grants for Youth Development for the subsequent budget year
- Other changes from the proposed FY 22 budget include:
- $165,000 to structurally add one Ethics Officer position, along with $35,000 in one-time funds, to support Ethics Commission work
- $100,116 to structurally support the incremental cost of converting two civilian positions to Police Officers in the Police Department’s Air Support Unit, resulting in the Unit being made up of four sworn police officers
- $100,000 in one-time funds for Fireworks Enforcement Team support
- $200,000 in one-time funds to determine the future of Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association
- $540,000 in one-time funds for City Council District Priority Funding
- $100,000 in one-time funds for speed mitigation efforts on residential streets
- $100,000 in one-time funds to develop a vision and plan for a Long Beach COVID-19 Memorial
- $127,633 in the Special Advertising and Promotions Fund to structurally restore one position in the Communications Program
- City Council has also identified the following high priority projects to be considered for funding using any year-end surplus resources if available:
- MLK Jr. Statue Restoration and park area improvements
- North Long Beach Pool feasibility study
- All Abilities Playground design enhancements for Admiral Kidd Playground and other potential playground projects
- Duck Pond gap funding as necessary
- Tree Trimming enhancements
- Bluff Park Historic Lamps
- Bixby Bandshell and park improvements
- Gateway Sign (405 and 22) implementation
- Public Fireworks show on July 4
- Beach Streets
- Items that have remained unchanged from the proposed budget include some of the following:
- $2.18 million in one-time funds for elections and redistricting one-time funding needed for the primary election in FY 22 and the independent redistricting commission work
- 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
- $250,000 in one-time funds for the Fire Department diversity recruitment one-time funding support to continue fostering diversity in the Fire Department, offset within the Department’s budget
- $220,000 in one-time funds for the Police Department’s Diversity recruitment, mentorship and partnership program to foster a workforce that reflects the diverse community, offset within the Department’s budget
- Measure A support for past restorations, public safety maintenance, and infrastructure investments, including funding for compliance with ADA sidewalk and curb-cut requirements
For more information about the budget or to access the Community Budget Book, the City Manager’s budget presentation, and Mayor Robert Garcia’s Budget Message, people may visit the Financial Management Department website.
About the City of Long Beach
Home to approximately 470,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly-rated school district, Long Beach Airport, the Port of Long Beach, as well as many award-winning City departments such as Health, Parks, Recreation and Marine, Development Services, Public Works and more. The City also has a highly respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, 12 libraries, five golf courses, 169 parks, miles of beaches, marinas, bike paths and a Bike Share program.
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