Budgets / LA County
LA County · FY 2026-27 adopted
The $50.3 billion County budget
Each category has two percentages. One is its share of the total budget. The other is its share of the County's own local money. The difference between them reflects state and federal funding. Open a category to see its departments.
The two shares
The County's total budget ($50.3 billion this year) includes a large amount of money that passes through it. The state and federal governments pay the County to run programs such as Medi-Cal, CalFresh food benefits and foster care, and they set most of the rules.
Net county cost is the part paid with the County's own local money, mostly property tax. It is about $13.0 billion. The Board of Supervisors decides how this money is spent.
As a result, a function can be a large share of the total budget and a small share of local money. Health & sanitation is 35% of the total budget and 14% of local money, because most of it is state and federal health funding. Public protection (Sheriff, Probation, courts) is 23% of the total and 35% of local money.
Health & sanitation Social program35% of total · 14% of local money $17.49B
County hospitals and clinics, mental health care, public health (disease control, restaurant inspections, substance use treatment) and environmental health.
Most of this is paid by the state and federal governments, largely through Medi-Cal, so the County puts in only about $1.9 billion of its own local money. Federal health funding cuts in the 2025 federal budget law hit this area hardest.
Which pot of money: 89% of this category is paid by the state, the federal government, fees or other outside sources. The County's own local money covers $1.87B.
| Department | What it does | Staff positions |
|---|---|---|
| County hospitals | The County's public hospitals, including LAC+USC, Harbor-UCLA, Olive View-UCLA and Rancho Los Amigos. | 18,411 |
| Health Services (clinics and administration) | Runs the County's public health care system: clinics and care for people with Medi-Cal or no insurance. | 8,389 |
| Mental Health | Mental health clinics, crisis teams and psychiatric care. | 7,689 |
| Public Health | Disease control and vaccines, restaurant inspections, substance use treatment and health data. | 5,470 |
The law behind it and sources
County hospitals and clinics, mental health care, public health (disease control, restaurant inspections, substance use treatment) and environmental health.
Most of this is paid by the state and federal governments, largely through Medi-Cal, so the County puts in only about $1.9 billion of its own local money. Federal health funding cuts in the 2025 federal budget law hit this area hardest.
- H.R. 1 (2025 federal budget law) (2025): The 2025 federal budget law cut federal support for Medicaid (Medi-Cal) and food benefits (CalFresh) and added work requirements. The County's health and social service budgets absorb much of the cut.
- State-to-county realignment (1991 and 2011) (2011): The state transferred to counties responsibility for many health, mental health, social service and public safety programs, and dedicated part of the sales tax to pay for them. As a result, part of the sales tax paid in LA funds County social programs.
Public assistance Social program25% of total · 16% of local money $12.56B
Help paid to or for residents: CalFresh food benefits, CalWORKs cash aid for families, General Relief for adults with no other income, In-Home Supportive Services for seniors and people with disabilities, foster care, and the new Department of Homeless Services and Housing.
The state and federal governments set most of these benefit rules and pay most of the cost. The County's own share is about $2.1 billion.
Which pot of money: 83% of this category is paid by the state, the federal government, fees or other outside sources. The County's own local money covers $2.14B.
| Department | What it does | Staff positions |
|---|---|---|
| Aging and Disabilities | Senior centers, meals, adult protective services and programs for people with disabilities. | 593 |
| Children and Family Services | Investigates child abuse reports and runs foster care and adoption. | 9,886 |
| Homeless Services and Housing | The County's new homelessness department, which spends most of the County's Measure A money. | 573 |
| Military and Veterans Affairs | Helps veterans claim benefits. | 66 |
| Public Social Services | Signs people up for and pays CalFresh, CalWORKs, General Relief, Medi-Cal and In-Home Supportive Services. | 14,587 |
The law behind it and sources
Help paid to or for residents: CalFresh food benefits, CalWORKs cash aid for families, General Relief for adults with no other income, In-Home Supportive Services for seniors and people with disabilities, foster care, and the new Department of Homeless Services and Housing.
The state and federal governments set most of these benefit rules and pay most of the cost. The County's own share is about $2.1 billion.
- H.R. 1 (2025 federal budget law) (2025): The 2025 federal budget law cut federal support for Medicaid (Medi-Cal) and food benefits (CalFresh) and added work requirements. The County's health and social service budgets absorb much of the cut.
- Measure A (LA County, 2024) (2024): A half-cent countywide sales tax for homelessness services and affordable housing, approved by County voters in November 2024. It replaced the quarter-cent Measure H on April 1, 2025, and splits its money by a fixed formula.
- State-to-county realignment (1991 and 2011) (2011): The state transferred to counties responsibility for many health, mental health, social service and public safety programs, and dedicated part of the sales tax to pay for them. As a result, part of the sales tax paid in LA funds County social programs.
Public protection23% of total · 35% of local money $11.57B
The Sheriff's Department (patrol in unincorporated areas and contract cities, plus the County jails), Probation, the District Attorney, the Public Defender, the Medical Examiner and court-related costs.
This is where the County spends the most of its own local money: about $4.6 billion, 35% of all local dollars. Part of your sales tax (Prop 172) is dedicated to it.
Which pot of money: 61% of this category is paid by the state, the federal government, fees or other outside sources. The County's own local money covers $4.55B.
| Department | What it does | Staff positions |
|---|---|---|
| Alternate Public Defender | Defends clients the Public Defender can't take because of conflicts. | 351 |
| District Attorney | Prosecutes crimes in the county. | 1,996 |
| Fire Department (Fire District) | Firefighting and paramedics for unincorporated areas and dozens of cities. Paid mostly from its own property tax share and a special tax, outside the main County budget. | 5,003 |
| Probation | Supervises people on probation and runs juvenile halls and camps. | 4,956 |
| Public Defender | Provides lawyers for people charged with crimes who can't afford one. | 1,123 |
| Sheriff | Patrols unincorporated areas and contract cities, runs the County jails and provides court security. | 17,303 |
The law behind it and sources
The Sheriff's Department (patrol in unincorporated areas and contract cities, plus the County jails), Probation, the District Attorney, the Public Defender, the Medical Examiner and court-related costs.
This is where the County spends the most of its own local money: about $4.6 billion, 35% of all local dollars. Part of your sales tax (Prop 172) is dedicated to it.
- Proposition 172 (1993): A statewide half-cent sales tax that can only be spent on local public safety: sheriff, police, fire, district attorneys and probation.
General government13% of total · 30% of local money $6.36B
Running the County itself: the Assessor, tax collection, elections (Registrar-Recorder), lawyers (County Counsel), human resources, technology, buildings, and set-asides like legal settlements. The County's $4.8 billion commitment to settle childhood sexual abuse claims under AB 218 affects this area.
Which pot of money: 39% of this category is paid by the state, the federal government, fees or other outside sources. The County's own local money covers $3.91B.
| Department | What it does | Staff positions |
|---|---|---|
| Assessor | Sets the assessed value of every property, which decides property tax bills. | 1,433 |
| Auditor-Controller | Pays the County's bills, audits departments and divides property tax among local governments. | 628 |
| Board of Supervisors | The five elected supervisors and their staff. | 459 |
| Chief Executive Office | Prepares the budget and manages County operations for the Board of Supervisors. | 560 |
| County Counsel | The County's lawyers. | 752 |
| Internal Services | Buildings, fleet, purchasing and technology for other County departments. | 2,158 |
| Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk | Runs elections and records deeds, marriages and births. | 1,150 |
| Treasurer and Tax Collector | Collects property taxes and manages County investments. | 462 |
The law behind it and sources
Running the County itself: the Assessor, tax collection, elections (Registrar-Recorder), lawyers (County Counsel), human resources, technology, buildings, and set-asides like legal settlements. The County's $4.8 billion commitment to settle childhood sexual abuse claims under AB 218 affects this area.
- AB 218 (2019) (2019): Gave survivors of childhood sexual abuse more time to sue. Claims against the County followed, and the County has committed more than $4.8 billion to settlements. That money is not available for other County programs.
Recreation & culture2% of total · 3% of local money $787M
County parks, beaches and marinas, the County art and natural history museums, and arts grants.
Which pot of money: 50% of this category is paid by the state, the federal government, fees or other outside sources. The County's own local money covers $394M.
| Department | What it does | Staff positions |
|---|---|---|
| Beaches and Harbors | County beaches and Marina del Rey. | 333 |
| Parks and Recreation | County parks, pools, golf courses and regional recreation areas. | 1,744 |
The law behind it and sources
County parks, beaches and marinas, the County art and natural history museums, and arts grants.
Other (libraries, roads and more)3% of total · 1% of local money $1.56B
Smaller categories the County budget groups as 'other', including County libraries and road work in unincorporated areas. Tally LA is confirming the exact contents with the County CEO's office.
Which pot of money: 91% of this category is paid by the state, the federal government, fees or other outside sources. The County's own local money covers $146M.
| Department | What it does | Staff positions |
|---|---|---|
| County Library | Libraries in unincorporated areas and cities that contract with the County. | 1,240 |
The law behind it and sources
Smaller categories the County budget groups as 'other', including County libraries and road work in unincorporated areas. Tally LA is confirming the exact contents with the County CEO's office.
Department dollar amounts load nightly. The County's adopted budget charts list staff positions by department but only give dollars by category. Department-level dollars come from the County's open budget dataset (last updated by the County Oct 2, 2026), which the nightly import reads. Grouping departments into categories follows the County's own department groupings.
Revenue
County revenue sources
Other revenueOther · 24.2% of the budget $12.2B
Everything the County's chart groups as 'other revenue'. The chart doesn't break it down, so Tally LA is asking the County CEO's office for the detail.
The law behind it and sources
Everything the County's chart groups as 'other revenue'. The chart doesn't break it down, so Tally LA is asking the County CEO's office for the detail.
State assistanceState or federal money · 23.3% of the budget $11.72B
Money the state sends the County to run state programs, including realignment sales tax for health, mental health and social services.
The law behind it and sources
Money the state sends the County to run state programs, including realignment sales tax for health, mental health and social services.
- State-to-county realignment (1991 and 2011) (2011): The state transferred to counties responsibility for many health, mental health, social service and public safety programs, and dedicated part of the sales tax to pay for them. As a result, part of the sales tax paid in LA funds County social programs.
Property taxesTax · 20.3% of the budget $10.22B
The County's share of property tax. Under Prop 13 the basic rate is 1% of assessed value, shared among schools, the County, cities and special districts.
The law behind it and sources
The County's share of property tax. Under Prop 13 the basic rate is 1% of assessed value, shared among schools, the County, cities and special districts.
- Proposition 13 (1978): Caps the basic property tax at 1% of a property's assessed value. The assessed value is set when the property is bought and can rise by no more than 2% a year until it sells again. Voter-approved bonds can add to the rate.
Charges for servicesFee or charge · 18.9% of the budget $9.5B
Payments for services the County provides, including what Medi-Cal and insurers pay County hospitals and fees paid by contract cities for Sheriff and other services.
The law behind it and sources
Payments for services the County provides, including what Medi-Cal and insurers pay County hospitals and fees paid by contract cities for Sheriff and other services.
Federal assistanceState or federal money · 13.3% of the budget $6.7B
Federal money for programs like Medicaid, food benefits administration and child welfare. The 2025 federal budget law reduces some of it.
The law behind it and sources
Federal money for programs like Medicaid, food benefits administration and child welfare. The 2025 federal budget law reduces some of it.
- H.R. 1 (2025 federal budget law) (2025): The 2025 federal budget law cut federal support for Medicaid (Medi-Cal) and food benefits (CalFresh) and added work requirements. The County's health and social service budgets absorb much of the cut.