Understanding the
LA County Budget
Los Angeles County is the nation’s largest County government with more residents than most states. And a multibillion-dollar budget that’s bigger than that of Kansas, Montana and Vermont—combined. Budgeting is a multi-phased process designed to provide a balanced budget—as required by state law—and meet the needs of our diverse community of nearly 10 million residents.
$48.8B
Recommended Budget
FY 2026-27
9.7M+
Residents Served
Largest County in U.S. by Population
39
County Departments
Delivering services
115K+
Budgeted Positions
County workforce
Key Budget Documents
Access official budget documents, charts, presentations and fact sheets for current and previous fiscal years.
2026-27 Recommended Budget
Current
The 2026-27 Recommended Budget has been balanced without relying on additional cuts to programs and services. This is despite extraordinary financial challenges, including dramatic cuts to federal funding for safety-net services, the need to rebuild fire-ravaged communities, and currently limitless liability to compensate survivors of abuse under Assembly Bill 218. It includes meaningful investments in cost of living increases and benefits for the County workforce. The CEO’s goal is to sustain a budget with sufficient reserves while limiting curtailments and layoffs over the next three fiscal years—looking ahead to a transition to an elected County chief executive in 2028.
Key Budget Documents
2025-26 Final Adopted Budget
The Supplemental Budget adopted by the Board of Supervisors on September 30, 2025 addresses the County’s many financial challenges by implementing 5.5% cuts, including eliminating a net 1,125 budgeted positions. In the face of federal and State funding cuts, growing litigation costs and the impacts of the January fires, this budget is using these savings to help fund negotiated labor agreements—an investment in the County’s workforce. More details on the budget can be found in the CEO’s presentation and documents below.
Key Budget Documents
Key Budget Documents
Access official budget documents, charts, presentations and fact sheets for current and previous fiscal years.
2026-27 Recommended Budget
Current
The 2026-27 Recommended Budget has been balanced without relying on additional cuts to programs and services. This is despite extraordinary financial challenges, including dramatic cuts to federal funding for safety-net services, the need to rebuild fire-ravaged communities, and currently limitless liability to compensate survivors of abuse under Assembly Bill 218. It includes meaningful investments in cost of living increases and benefits for the County workforce. The CEO’s goal is to sustain a budget with sufficient reserves while limiting curtailments and layoffs over the next three fiscal years—looking ahead to a transition to an elected County chief executive in 2028.
Key Budget Documents
2025-26 Final Adopted Budget
The Supplemental Budget adopted by the Board of Supervisors on September 30, 2025 addresses the County’s many financial challenges by implementing 5.5% cuts, including eliminating a net 1,125 budgeted positions. In the face of federal and State funding cuts, growing litigation costs and the impacts of the January fires, this budget is using these savings to help fund negotiated labor agreements—an investment in the County’s workforce. More details on the budget can be found in the CEO’s presentation and documents below.
Key Budget Documents
FY 2026–27 Public Budget Presentations
Public budget presentations for FY 2026-27 were held in February 2026. Explore and watch each department’s budget presentation below.
FY 2026-27 Departmental Public Budget Presentations Overview
Budgetary Pressures & Impacts
As directed by the Board of Supervisors on July 29, 2025, the Chief Executive is providing public updates on the County’s budget, including the latest federal and State policy changes with potential impacts to County staff, contracted providers, and service delivery.* Presentations are linked below.
*Financial data is preliminary. Estimated impacts on County programs and services may change week to week based on available data.
Understanding Your Tax Dollars
How is the County Budget Spent?
Federal, state and locally-generated revenues fund a wide array of programs that the County is legally required to provide—like public health care, assistance to children and families, keeping our communities safe and running fair and accessible elections. The budget also funds culture, education and recreation, including world-class museums and beaches, an expansive park system and an extensive network of community libraries. It supports programs to address some of our toughest social problems and provides a wide range of services to seniors and youth, business and workers and our most vulnerable neighbors, including those experiencing homelessness.
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
Where the Money Comes From
Most of LA County's budget is funded from state and federal sources and is tied to specific programs and services, some of which are mandated by law. These funds are not available to be used for other purposes. The County also raises money locally from property and sales taxes and by providing services to cities or agencies that reimburse the County's costs.
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
Where the Money Goes
County funding supports programs and services that residents depend on every day, including public health care, support for children and families, elections, emergency response, and public safety operations across the region.
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
How Locally Generated Revenues are Raised
The vast majority of locally generated revenues come from property taxes. Other sources include sales taxes, reimbursement for services—such as sheriff's patrols in cities without their own police force—state realignment funds. Dollars budgeted for the prior fiscal year that are unspent by year-end are another source of one-time funding for one-time uses, such as capital projects.
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
How Locally Generated Revenues are Spent
The County has the greatest flexibility and control in deciding how to spend locally generated revenues, but each year, there are more programs and services proposed than can be fully funded. The Board has also agreed to set aside 10% of locally generated unrestricted revenues to be allocated annually to direct community investments and alternatives to incarceration, under its Care First and Community Investment initiative to reduce the jail population.
Budget Educational Videos
Watch our animated videos to understand how the County budget works and how it serves residents.
Learn About the LA County Budget (Spanish)
In LA County, the work to create a budget is a year-round process. And that means lots of opportunities for the public to get involved and better understand how taxpayer dollars are spent. Learn more at ceo.lacounty.gov/budget.
LA County At Your Service
A quick look at how Los Angeles County delivers essential services and supports communities every day. Behind the scenes, thousands work to keep LA running and help residents thrive.
LA County Budget Basics
The budget is the engine that powers the County’s work, funding critical services and programs and an ambitious agenda for an even stronger, healthier, more dynamic Los Angeles County. Here’s a snapshot of the budgeting process.
A Very Large Budget—With Strings Attached
LA County manages a multi-billion dollar budget. But most County funding comes with strings attached.