In 2014, the City of LA Considered a Citywide Infrastructure Tax – It’s Time to Do It Again
The devastating fires that have swept through Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Altadena, Pasadena, Sierra Madre, and other areas have left a trail of loss and underscore the urgent need to support those who have lost so much. Yet, these tragedies also expose and amplify a long-standing reality: the City of Los Angeles was already grappling with an infrastructure and governance crisis well before these disasters.
While Mayor Karen Bass’s executive orders, City Council motions, and the appointment of Steve Soboroff as Chief Recovery Officer mark a critical start to recovery efforts, these actions must be seen as only the first steps in addressing deeper systemic issues. These challenges have long hindered LA’s ability to provide essential services and ensure the city’s resilience in the face of disasters.
Through our work researching, convening stakeholders, and developing recommendations around the city’s public infrastructure and service delivery over the past decade, it’s clear that the absence of a capital planning office and a comprehensive Capital Infrastructure Plan (CIP) has left Angelenos vulnerable. A CIP—essentially a multiyear budget tied to policy priorities—is critical for coordinating investments and addressing issues like malfunctioning streetlights, inadequate stormwater management, inaccessible public spaces, and insufficient street shade. Without a cohesive approach, LA’s built environment tells a stark story of uneven investment and political silos. The recent fires exacerbate this pre-existing emergency, compounding the city’s ongoing housing crisis and the growing impacts of climate change.
Historically, the city’s responses to these challenges have been fragmented and reactive, with limited coordination between agencies. This leaves systemic vulnerabilities unaddressed. Meanwhile, cities like New Orleans, Chicago, New York, Miami, Houston, and San Francisco have embedded disaster recovery into their already existing Capital Infrastructure Plans. By incorporating disaster mitigation measures such as green infrastructure for flood control and seismic retrofits for critical facilities, these cities have moved on from these crises to build more resilient and integrated infrastructure systems.
Los Angeles cannot afford to continue relying on ad hoc recovery plans drafted primarily to access FEMA and HUD dollars—plans that often lack robust funding mechanisms or accountability. Examples like the city’s Green New Deal, Mobility Plan, and Hazard Mitigation Plan highlight the persistent gap between visionary planning and actionable, budgeted implementation. This moment presents Mayor Bass with a unique opportunity to advance her vision under Executive Directive #9, transforming the urgency of recovery into a lasting commitment to resilience. This is the time to address the city’s public infrastructure, which is long overdue for repair and upgrades, through a dedicated plan and revenue model.
Among the city motions currently under consideration is one proposing research into a bond to supplement funding for building and maintaining the fire department. While this component is important, LA’s recovery strategy must go beyond isolated measures. A comprehensive CIP must ensure that any proposed revenue-generating ballot initiatives address the broader spectrum of neglected public infrastructure requiring funding and maintenance. Angelenos have consistently demonstrated their generosity and willingness to support their communities. They will likely rally behind a larger, cohesive, budgeted vision that benefits the entire city, uniting efforts to create a safer, more resilient, and equitable Los Angeles.
In 2014, the City of Los Angeles considered the “Save Our Streets and Sidewalks (SOS)” sales tax measure, a potential source of dedicated, 100% city-controlled infrastructure funding that could have proceeded without state legislative action. However, the city ultimately shelved SOS to support the countywide transportation sales tax measure, Measure M. While Measure M funds essential regional transportation projects, it leaves a significant funding gap for Los Angeles’s critical public infrastructure needs, such as sidewalks, streets, and parks. Critically, because of Measure M and other existing county sales taxes, Los Angeles has reached its local sales tax cap and now requires state approval to implement any citywide infrastructure tax. Given LA’s urgent infrastructure needs, it’s hard to imagine state policymakers not supporting such an initiative.
A well-conceived CIP and resulting revenue-generating ballot measure could prioritize investments that reduce risks, strengthen social connections, and enhance public infrastructure. Expanding the urban tree canopy to mitigate heat islands, constructing permeable surfaces for stormwater management, and creating accessible public spaces are just a few examples of projects that would safeguard residents while delivering long-term cost savings. According to FEMA, every dollar invested in disaster mitigation yields $6 in avoided damages, making resilience a fiscally sound strategy… and the right thing to do.
Here’s What Needs to Happen:
- Create a CIP: Follow through on Executive Directive #9 and conduct an inventory of city assets, assess needs, identify available funding, and determine budget shortfalls.
- Learn from Other Cities: Explore models from cities like Long Beach and Burbank (and many others across the county) that have adopted citywide infrastructure sales taxes. Additionally, examine examples from cities nationwide that have integrated resilience and climate mitigation investments into their Capital Infrastructure Plans (CIPs).
- Develop an Expenditure Plan in partnership with Angelenos: Use these insights to create a detailed, transparent expenditure plan for a city ballot measure and include the voices of Angelenos throughout the city.
- Engage State Legislators and the Governor: Advocate for the necessary state legislation to enable a citywide sales tax for infrastructure.
- Take It to the Voters: Present the plan to Angelenos, demonstrating how their investment would transform the city and benefit every community.
By taking these steps, Los Angeles can move on from this moment to finally address long-standing systemic issues and build a city that is prepared for the challenges of today and the future.
