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As Long Beach leaders consider millions of dollars in cuts to city services to balance next year’s budget, the debate is putting renewed attention on how the city has managed some of its largest projects in recent years.
The city is confronting a $58.2 million structural deficit in its General Fund for fiscal year 2027 — the portion of the budget that pays for many of the city’s basic services, including police and fire.

While Long Beach’s total proposed budget is roughly $4 billion, much of that money sits in separate funds dedicated to specific purposes and cannot simply be used to cover the General Fund shortfall. To balance the General Fund, the city manager has proposed a combination of departmental reductions, funding shifts, new revenue and other cost-saving measures.

The projects examined below did not cause the current General Fund deficit, and many were paid for through separate funding sources. But as city leaders decide where to cut, the projects provide context on how Long Beach has managed tens of millions of dollars in public money — including projects that grew in cost, experienced years of delays or raised questions about oversight.

Long Beach Fire Chief Dennis Buchanan says he does not want to make the millions of dollars in cuts proposed for his department, but understands the difficult financial position facing the city.
“Do I want to do this? Absolutely no, but I understand the seriousness that we are in right now,” Buchanan told NBC4 in an exclusive interview.

A new fence surrounding an outdoor terrace at Long Beach’s Billie Jean King Main Library cost taxpayers nearly $790,000, according to the city. But public records obtained by NBC4 Investigates show the company hired to build the fence was paid significantly less.
The records show Quality Fence Co. was hired to furnish and install the fencing for an original price of $398,168. A subsequent change order added $20,395.20, bringing the documented fence construction work to $418,563.20.
That leaves a difference of $371,436.80 between the documented fence construction costs and the city’s publicly stated cost for the overall project.
So what accounts for the rest?

Richard Alexis Castillo, 26, of Garden Grove, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of criminal threats, the Long Beach Police Department said. According to law enforcement, the suspect made criminal threats online against the Big Gay Floatilla event.

29 people have died in crashes this year, while the police department faces staffing challenges and potential budget cuts.

Chief Wally Hebeish says the city will need a collaborative approach to traffic safety.

What do you think needs to change? 👇

Mayor Rex Richardson and manager Tom Modica are proposing one of the city’s largest workforce reductions in years, eliminating a net 413 positions as officials try to close a $58.2 million budget deficit. While many of those positions are vacant, city officials estimate about 180 employees could ultimately lose their jobs if the budget is approved.

The biggest proposed cuts include: Parks, Recreation & Marine: 142 positions, Police: 72, Health & Human Services: 66, Public Works: 43, Technology & Innovation: 24, Fire: 21.

The proposal would also reduce some homeless outreach programs, scale back recreation services, return libraries to a five-day schedule and eliminate one fire engine serving the Colorado Lagoon area.

Mayor Rex Richardson restored 70 positions from the city manager’s original proposal, but hundreds of cuts remain in the version now headed to the City Council.

The council will debate the proposal before adopting a final budget later this year. What do you think? Are these cuts necessary to balance the budget, or do they go too far? Let us know in the comments."

The 2026 Point-in-Time Count reached its highest level in at least six years, as some council members defended the city’s approach while others called for greater accountability.

Most people think the mayor runs Long Beach.

That’s not how the city works.

Long Beach operates under a council-manager system — meaning the CITY COUNCIL has far more power than many voters realize.

Here’s why this election matters:
🗳 The mayor’s office is up for grabs
🗳 Five city council seats are on the ballot
🗳 The people elected will shape the city for years

The city council:
➡️ Hires the city manager
➡️ Controls budgets
➡️ Approves major projects
➡️ Sets policy and direction

And all of this is happening while the city faces:
• A projected $60M budget deficit
• Homelessness concerns
• Traffic fatalities
• Public projects with rising costs and delays

Examples:
📍 Long Beach amphitheater: $14M → $21M+
📍 Colorado Lagoon restoration: $26M → $32M+
📍 Multiple city projects facing delays and scrutiny

This election is bigger than campaign slogans.

It’s about who voters trust to make decisions — and who should be held accountable for the direction of Long Beach.

Do you think most people understand how Long Beach government actually works?

👇 Comment below and share this with a Long Beach voter