Dear Friend —

Earlier today I presented the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY 23) Budget in partnership with City Manager, Tom Modica. This is my eighth and final budget that I am presenting to the City Council, and like the previous seven, it is balanced and responsible. This $3.2 billion budget makes substantial new investments in infrastructure repairs, public safety, homeless services, and creates a new Office of Climate Action. 

The budget also continues to strengthen our recovery from the largest public health crisis of our lifetime.  As we continue this recovery, we are taking important steps to address pandemics and strengthening our public health response to keep our community safe — this includes continued investments from the Long Beach Recovery Act to fund positions and initiatives focused on pandemic response and preparedness as well as economic recovery.

A BOLD NEW INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN
The FY 23 proposed budget proudly presents a five-year, $522 million plan to improve infrastructure across the city. This includes:

• $322 million for mobility improvements such as street, alleyway and bridge repairs in addition to bike and pedestrian upgrades;
• Over $48 million for park improvements;
• $50 million for public facilities like our Senior Center, libraries and fire stations;
• And over $80 million in other city infrastructure including accessibility improvements to our sidewalks, investments in water quality at Alamitos Bay, climate action and adaptation measures, our Colorado Lagoon Open Channel Project and Broadway corridor LGBTQ+ cultural district project.

We are able to continue making these historic investments in public safety, emergency response and our city’s infrastructure thanks to Measure A, which was approved by voters in 2016 and extended by voters in 2020 and will provide over $238 million towards this improvement five-year plan. 

For the full infrastructure investment plan and to check out our map of improvement projects, click here.

OUR HOMELESSNESS CRISIS AND ACTION PLAN
Addressing and finding local solutions to the nationwide homelessness crisis continues to be a top priority for the City. This budget provides a total of $77 million for housing services, including:

• More than $50 million in interim and permanent housing opportunities;
• $20 million in services to those in the city who are unhoused;
• And $6 million for our Multi-Service Center operations.

Thanks again to Measure A, we are also able to invest $5 million towards Project Homekey in our city, which allows us to convert existing hotels into supportive housing for residents experiencing homelessness. This budget also expands our Restorative Engagement to Achieve Collective Health (REACH) teams from two to three, enhancing our ability to assist and better support our unhoused community.

A SAFE CITY FOR ALL
Long Beach also remains committed to ensuring we protect the public’s safety and this budget proposes additional investments, including significant funding for the Community Crisis Response program to focus on responding to mental health, substance use and other quality of life calls for service. We are also adding 20 new police officer positions, including four new Quality of Life Officers and 16 new bike officer positions to focus on neighborhood outreach, community engagement and immediate public safety needs.

A NEW CLIMATE OFFICE
Additionally, the FY 23 proposed budget creates a new Office of Climate Action and Sustainability in the General Fund under the City Manager. This development was initially proposed by my office and will be made up of nine full-time positions. Their work will be dedicated to climate action and they will manage a coordinated City response to climate change in a manner that addresses public health disparities, fosters green economic opportunities, and works to transition away from fossil fuels. The office will also help advance the goals and strategies outlined in the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Long Beach and expand carbon neutrality efforts.

For more on what is in our proposed city budget and to look for opportunities to give feedback, please visit our budget website here. 

We are incredibly grateful for our strong partnerships at the state and federal level that have allowed us to build on the progress we have already started, and make historic investments in our economic recovery and infrastructure. I also want to thank our city team who have worked so hard each and every year to strengthen our city's budget. As a team, we have worked hard to make sure that our budget each year is responsible and reflects the priorities of our residents. I look forward to working with the Council to adopt and implement this budget. 

Thank you and Go Long Beach, 

Mayor Robert Garcia