The Long Beach City Council has approved a $3.7 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026, focusing on maintaining core services and strategic investments. The budget aims to uphold the city’s commitment to community well-being by preserving essential services without major reductions and aligning with the Long Beach Strategic Vision 2030.
Key Highlights of the FY 2026 Budget
- Housing and Homelessness: Additional positions in the Community Development Department, including a Civil Engineering Associate and a Code Enforcement Officer, have been added to strengthen rental housing enforcement. Updated fee structures will help align revenues with service delivery costs.
- Public Safety: The budget continues operations of the Rescue 2 Peak Load Ambulance Unit within the Fire Department by adding paramedics and updating critical medical equipment. The Police Department is reallocating staff to form a new Societal Crimes Section and adding eight civilian Community Services Assistants to improve response times.
- Economic Development: The Economic Development Department will be renamed the Economic Development and Opportunity Department, reflecting a stronger focus on inclusive growth. Funding of $1 million will support the Small Business Rebound Initiative, including programs like the Inclusive Business Navigators and the Legacy Business Program.
- Environmental Services: Solid waste management programs are transitioning to the newly created Energy and Environmental Services Department to enhance coordination. This shift aims to streamline operations and align the city’s new organics collection program with planned modifications to the Southeast Resource Recovery Facility.
- Infrastructure and Public Spaces: The Public Works Department is establishing a Transportation Services Bureau to streamline street sweeping, parking control, mobility, and customer relations. Investments include new equipment like an electric vehicle bike lane sweeper to enhance maintenance in key corridors.
Mayor Rex Richardson emphasized the budget’s focus on community well-being, stating, “This budget reflects our unwavering commitment to the people of Long Beach, protecting vital City services and uplifting our most vulnerable community members through thoughtful investments, particularly during these challenging and unprecedented times.”
City Manager Tom Modica highlighted the collaborative effort in establishing the budget, noting, “We have been hard at work all year long to establish a budget that protects the everyday City services our residents depend on, one that avoids major reductions in the midst of economic uncertainty, and one that is reflective of the needs of our community.”
The Fiscal Year 2026 budget reflects the city’s proactive approach to addressing financial challenges while investing in key areas to support the community’s needs and strategic goals.