Would you back two new taxes in Los Angeles City if they were meant to support the LAFD? L.A. residents will likely have to make that call at the ballot next June.
Amid L.A.'s projected billion-dollar budget shortfall and fallout from the Palisades Fire disaster, there is little question that the Los Angeles City Fire Department needs more infrastructure — by some estimates, at least 60 new or refurbished fire stations and more fire trucks.
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A bond measure to cover the cost seems almost guaranteed to be on the June 2026 ballot. Voters will decide if the measure is necessary, and if they vote yes, property owners would see an assessment of yearly property tax bills to pay for the updates.
Bonds, however, cannot be used to pay salaries, and given the LAFD's long-standing understaffing issues, a second measure to cover the expense is being floated around city hall.
Los Angeles Councilmember Traci Park says the department has about 3,000 firefighters now, but it should be double that, so there are informal talks about a tax that could also end up on the ballot.
"A sales tax spreads the obligation around in a more equitable way," Park told KNX News' Craig Fiegener. "There's been proposals to do it as a parcel tax. I don't think it's fair just to put the responsibility onto property owners... but those are conversations that we need to have in context with the overall budget and financial picture of the city."
Though no formal discussions have taken place on the tax measure, Councilmember Tim McOsker said, "There will probably be some talk with our labor partners and with the city family as to whether or not we need a different instrument, possibly a special tax for [more] firefighters."
He said that while he believes it's essential to consider a measure like a tax to ensure the city can pay the bills associated with expanding the LAFD, he won't know which way to vote until the conversations are had.
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