MOTION-- Every year, pursuant to City Charter Section 312, the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles
releases a proposed budget on or before April 20. After the release of the proposed
budget, the City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee typically holds public
hearings over the course of two weeks to discuss the proposed budget and receive
public input. For at least the last eight years, those committee hearings have included
presentations and feedback from City departments, Neighborhood Councils,
constituents, non-profits, businesses, labor partners and more. The several week
process allows the Budget and Finance Committee to solicit feedback from all
stakeholders and interested parties before recommendations are made to the full
Council for changes in the proposed budget. The City Council adopts the new budget
on or before June 1.

Ultimately, budgets are a reflection of values. The decisions made by the Mayor and
City Council impact housing, economic development, infrastructure, youth
programming, neighborhood quality of life and the many other issues within the
jurisdiction of municipal government.

Nationally, the COVID-19 global pandemic and its economic impacts have forced
governments at all levels to reevaluate their programs, services and budgets. At the
same time, these strains have highlighted ongoing racial inequities in many government
services.

Locally, the City Council has been working to address issues of inequity and injustice for
years. The City Council established the Civil, Human Rights and Equity Department to
assist in ensuring that city government is taking all appropriate steps to promote equity,
inclusion and justice in the delivery of city services. The Department is tasked with
addressing long-standing issues impacting underserved and minority communities. The
Department's mission is “to maintain and strengthen Los Angeles’ diversity, equity, and
accountability.” It is important for that work to start with an evaluation of the City's
annual budget.

WE THEREFORE MOVE that the City Council instruct the Civil, Human Rights and
Equity Department to conduct an annual assessment of the Mayor’s Proposed Budget
and present that assessment to the Budget and Finance Committee. The assessment
should include, but not be limited to, the Department’s findings regarding potential
inequities in the following categories: 

• Service delivery

• Infrastructure investment

• Environmental justice impacts

• Access to programming