Long Beach is preparing to eliminate more than 260 jobs and an additional 200-plus vacant positions as city officials work to close a $58 million budget deficit. The proposed cuts, detailed in City Manager Tom Modica's $4 billion 2026-27 budget, represent the first general fund layoffs in nearly six years and will impact public safety, libraries, and youth programs.
The proposed budget targets a reduction of approximately 4% of the city's workforce, which numbers close to 6,000 employees. This measure comes after increased labor costs, legal settlements, diminished tax revenues, and the expiration of federal grants strained city finances.
Public safety services are slated for reductions. The city proposes closing Fire Engine 14, which officials state responds to the fewest fire calls and handles a high volume of medical emergencies. This closure is expected to save $3.8 million. In the police department, 17 vacant patrol officer positions would be eliminated, along with 18 investigator roles. An additional $2.68 million in overtime is also targeted for cuts, though sworn officers and firefighters affected by position eliminations would be reassigned.
The Health Department faces significant reductions, losing 79 positions due to an $11 million decrease in external funding. Among these are eight positions within the city's homelessness bureau, which could lead to reduced weekend outreach, a scaled-back medical shuttle service, fewer workforce programs, and the elimination of one of two mobile homeless outreach teams.
Services for the homeless will also be affected, with a reduction in motel voucher shelter rooms from 40 to 15 and rapid rehousing assistance provided to 45 fewer households, although all municipal shelter beds will remain operational. Residents will also experience service changes at public libraries, with five locations reducing their hours to five days a week. Teen programs at Chavez Park, summer swim lessons at Jordan and Millikan high schools, and the after-school WRAP program are also set to be eliminated. Additionally, hourly parking rates are proposed to increase from $2 to $3.
Despite these proposed cuts, the budget includes provisions to maintain a 12-officer High Crime Focus Team, expand the city's real-time crime center, permanently staff Fire Engine 17, upgrade the police crime lab, and acquire a new $6.5 million police helicopter using forfeited assets and a law enforcement grant.
Long Beach has already utilized $27 million of its reserves, with $33.6 million remaining. Mayor Rex Richardson aims to reinstate approximately 70 positions and protect certain police, fire, youth, and homelessness programs, while also adding health-related jobs. These restorations would be funded through revenue from Measure ER, a revised fire services agreement with the Port of Long Beach, and savings from skipping a November general election.
The proposed budget is scheduled for public hearings before the City Council, with a final vote anticipated in late September. The city projects a deficit of $27.3 million for the following year, but Mayor Richardson stated that Long Beach remains on course to achieve its first structural budget surplus by 2028.