Los Angeles County Legislative Delegation Announces 2026-27 State Budget Priorities

[Sacramento, CA]- The Los Angeles County Legislative Delegation (Delegation) today announced its budget priorities for the year that will protect essential local services, continue wildfire recovery, invest in housing and homelessness solutions and make critical infrastructure investments ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Outlined in a series of letters to budget leaders, the delegation's proposals represent a coordinated effort to invest in Los Angeles County's recovery and long-term resilience while preparing the region to host millions of visitors at upcoming international events.

The Delegation's priorities include:

LA Wildfire Recovery and Community Rebuilding - $100 Million

• $70 million for soil testing and remediation to address hazardous contamination
• $10 million to develop statewide smoke-damage safety standards
• $10 million to stabilize water systems in fire-impacted communities
• $5 million for the Altadena Library District
• $5 million to rebuild the Palisades Branch Library

County of Los Angeles Priorities - Over $1 Billion in Health and Homelessness Investments

To stabilize core safety net services, the Delegation is requesting major investments for Los Angeles County, including:

• $500 million annually to restore the State's share of Medi-Cal inpatient costs for public hospitals, relieving a long-standing financial burden on county systems
• Rejection of proposed reductions to full-scope Medi-Cal coverage for vulnerable residents
• $500 million for Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Round 7, plus $1 billion ongoing to sustain homelessness response efforts statewide
• $10 million to establish a centralized LA County Rebuild Authority to coordinate wildfire recovery efforts

These investments are critical to maintaining healthcare access and preventing backsliding on successful homelessness progress.

City of Los Angeles Priorities - Homelessness, Recovery, and Global Event Readiness

The Delegation is also advancing a broad package of investments to support the City of Los Angeles, including:

• Restoring $1 billion statewide for HHAP Round 7 and establishing ongoing homelessness funding for cities
• Addressing the residential rebuilding funding gap for wildfire survivors
• Establishing a wildfire recovery loan program of at least $300 million

To prepare for upcoming global events, the delegation is requesting $735.9 million for citywide readiness, including:

• $520 million for street and transportation improvements
• $30 million for accessibility improvements ahead of the Paralympic Games
• $30 million for energy upgrades
• $20 million for arts and culture programming
• $20 million for mobility and safety improvements
• $20 million for the Clean Corridors Program
• $11 million for community-based highway cleanup efforts
• $65.3 million to revitalize the Sepulveda Basin, a major Olympic venue

These investments will ensure the Los Angeles region is prepared to safely and inclusively host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Affordable Housing and Homelessness Prevention - $8 Million

The Delegation is requesting $8 million to support implementation of the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA).

This funding will support regional coordination to accelerate housing production, streamline processes, and expand renter protections and homelessness prevention programs-helping ensure more than $500 million in housing investments are deployed effectively.

Transit and Mobility for the 2028 Games - $379.29 Million

To support a "transit-first" Olympic Games and long-term mobility improvements, the Delegation is requesting $379.29 million for LA Metro projects, including:

• Integrated regional traffic management systems
• Rail station upgrades and mobility hubs
• Light rail system improvements
• First/last-mile access enhancements
• Transportation demand management strategies

These projects will improve safety, reduce emissions and create lasting transportation benefits for the region.

Exposition Park Improvements - $240.5 Million

The Delegation is requesting $240.5 million to address critical deferred maintenance, safety and security needs at Exposition Park - one of the state's most heavily visited public spaces.

With projected annual visitation exceeding 10 million and major global events on the horizon, investments will include:

• ADA accessibility and infrastructure upgrades
• Fire and life-safety improvements
• $20.5 million in enhanced security infrastructure
• Site improvements to safely accommodate large-scale international events

Exposition Park will host both FIFA World Cup events along with Olympic and Paralympic activities, making these investments essential for public safety and statewide economic success.

"The Los Angeles County Legislative Delegation recognizes the challenging budget year the state faces and will work to approve a responsible, balanced and on time budget," said Delegation Chair Assemblymember Tina McKinnor. "A responsible budget includes protecting patient access to Los Angeles County's public hospitals, restoring proposed MediCAL cuts impacting low income residents and helping more families find a safe, affordable and permanent place to call home. A responsible budget also includes looking ahead in order to have necessary security, accessibility and critical infrastructure investments completed prior to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We are confident that we can accomplish all of these goals and look forward to working with legislative leadership and the governor to deliver for Los Angeles County residents."

Following Governor Newsom's budget proposal in January, the Legislature has begun to review and debate the proposed budget along with budget proposals from state legislators. The California Constitution requires that the annual state budget be approved by the Legislature no later than June 15 of each year. Additional budget negotiations continue through the summer, with supplemental budget proposals considered until the end of the legislative session in September.

A copy of the Delegation's budget request supporting the City of Los Angeles can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_yeGo8Qe0dMtnx8OqLHp_ML5fSUZPBhJ/view?usp=sharing

A copy of the Delegation's budget request supporting the County of Los Angeles can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PSPmX8tHTGjbpT_xzFoIR8rYnIaXz5k8/view?usp=sharing

A copy of the Delegation's budget request supporting infrastructure needs at Exposition Park can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jAkw7iZPg4AfkHZPyWOCWc5QV2E4bP1s/view?usp=sharing

A copy of the Delegation's budget request supporting the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14sSrRF5qQotgo4-wPrJm1tfr98tYCt8I/view?usp=sharing

A copy of the Delegation's budget request supporting the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cT9EDhr3SC0Dr4OU1Y1hqoPHwsgyPNP-/view?usp=sharing

A copy of the Delegation's budget request supporting continued recovery after the 2025 Los Angeles County wildfires can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X2qRYxIojteVTAJ53W9pE2_gXuZGlCXv/view?usp=sharing