Long Beach budget review begins amid projected deficit and possible cuts
Long Beach’s review of its proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget begins Tuesday, July 28, as city officials confront a projected $61.3 million general-fund deficit and warn that service reductions may be necessary.
The Budget Oversight Committee is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Civic Chambers at 411 W. Ocean Blvd. The agenda calls for approval of the FY 2027 hearing schedule, an overview of community budget meetings and engagement opportunities, and a high-level educational presentation involving the Health and Human Services Department.
Specific department cuts have not been finalized in the available city records. The hearing schedule identifies service areas for review, but it does not establish that any department or program has been selected for reduction.
What happens next
The next major milestone is the City Manager’s proposed-budget presentation, scheduled for August 4 at 3 p.m. The Budget Oversight Committee is also scheduled to meet that day at noon.
The city’s budget schedule lists later hearings on public safety, health and human services, community development, Parks, Recreation and Marine, Library, Arts and Culture, public works and the proposed Capital Improvement Plan. The Capital Improvement Plan review concerns proposed capital projects and should be distinguished from the city’s general-fund operating budget.
An August 17 Budget Oversight Committee meeting is reserved for public comment on the budget. The official schedule lists that session for 5:30 p.m., giving residents a meeting focused on testimony rather than department presentations.
Budget adoption is planned for September 8, 2026. Until then, the City Manager’s proposal, committee recommendations and City Council deliberations could change the eventual spending plan.
Why the deficit matters
Long Beach Post reported in April that the city’s budget team expected a $61.3 million deficit. City Manager Tom Modica said the shortfall would require general-fund service reductions, although officials did not identify specific cuts at that stage.
The general fund pays for many city services residents use directly, including public safety, libraries, parks, public works and other municipal operations. The possible effect on those services will depend on the City Manager’s proposal and on changes made during the public review process.
How residents can participate
Residents can find the official FY 2027 budget page, the budget schedule, agendas, participation instructions and multilingual materials through the City of Long Beach.
The July 28 Budget Oversight Committee agenda says members of the public may submit comments online or by email. It also provides instructions for viewing the meeting online through the city’s meeting portal.
The city has additional community budget meetings scheduled in August, including virtual and in-person sessions, with multilingual materials available on the budget page. Residents should check the city’s budget page and meeting portal before attending because meeting details, access information and agendas can change.
The August 4 proposed-budget presentation will be the clearest opportunity to see which savings, revenue changes or service adjustments the City Manager is formally recommending. Until that proposal is released, the projected deficit is a warning about pressure on the city’s finances—not a final list of approved cuts.
Sources
- City of Long Beach FY 2027 Proposed Budget
- July 28 Budget Oversight Committee Agenda
- Long Beach Post budget deficit report
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