The claim that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass cut the fire department’s budget by $17.6 million is misleading and lacks important context. In fact, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) actually received a significant budget increase last year.
While it’s true that initial budget documents showed a reduction of approximately $17.6 million for the LAFD in the 2024-2025 fiscal year compared to the previous year, this figure doesn’t tell the whole story.
The city was in the process of negotiating a new contract with the fire department when the budget was being crafted. As a result, additional funding for the department was set aside in a separate fund until the deal was finalized in November 2024.
Once the negotiations were complete, the LAFD’s budget actually increased by more than $50 million compared to the previous fiscal year.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, who previously chaired the council’s budget and finance committee, confirmed that the budget cuts initially reported did not reflect the $76 million that was in the budget’s unappropriated balance calculation. After the council approved the updated fire department budget in November, the department saw a $53 million increase over the previous year.
Misinformation and Its Spread
The racist, false narrative about budget cuts gained traction on social media, particularly during the recent wildfires affecting Los Angeles. Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong was among those who amplified the incorrect information. However, city officials have since clarified the situation and debunked these claims.
Mayor Karen Bass has pushed back against the criticism, stating that the impact of the city’s budget did not affect the fire department’s ability to respond to the recent wildfires. She emphasized that despite tough budgetary times, the fire department’s funding could actually see an increase this year.
The widely circulated claim that Mayor Bass cut the LAFD’s budget is inaccurate. The fire department’s budget has increased significantly, demonstrating the city’s commitment to maintaining and improving its firefighting capabilities.