City of Los Angeles Community Budget Day City Budget Update Presented by Ben Ceja Assistant CAO October 26, 2013
Executive Summary The City has entered a new period of growth and fiscal balance. Fiscal year 2013-14 is a turning point in the City s financial position. Established a new normal of a lower workforce Solid set-aside fund balance of over $400 million $326.7 million Reserve Fund on July 1, 2013 (6.71% of General Fund Revenues - highest ever) $61.5 million Budget Stabilization Fund (After $8 million is transferred to General Fund per Adopted Budget) $21 million Unappropriated Balance Positive increase of City revenues, including property and sales taxes, over 3% for the past year Continued implementation of a strategic plan including a Five Guiding Principles approach Rate of growth in pension and OPEB have been mitigated Adopted new tiers for new sworn and civilian hires Increased employee contribution towards retirement health benefits from 0% to 2% (sworn) or 4% (civilian) No Fiscal Emergency Resolution, no furloughs, no layoffs under the 2013-14 Adopted Budget Met Capital Improvement Expenditure Policy ( CIEP ) of 1% 2013-14 Adopted Budget creates a roadmap to budget surplus by 2017-18 1
Executive Summary The City has entered a new period of growth and fiscal balance. In First Financial Status Report released on October 17, 2013, CAO reports on: 2012-13 revenues which came in higher than budgeted by $116.7 million. 2013-14 revenues which are still to early to state whether they will come in higher or lower but currently are tracking on budget. Reserve Fund which was higher than expected by about $65 million. Four-Year Outlook which was unchanged from Adopted Budget but which contains two scenarios showing a surplus by 2017-18 under one and a continued but smaller deficit in 2017-18 under a second scenario. 2013-14 projected department deficits of $25.3 million which identify 5 main drivers of the deficit including: Fire Department $14 million Election Cost for Public Health Initiative $4.6 million Police Department $3.8 million City Attorney $2 million Transportation $0.88 million Ongoing issues of concern with regard to labor-related litigation, class action liability, federal and state actions taken, and pension issues. 2
Budget Guiding Principles in Action I Responsible Fiscal Management II Focus on Core Services III Alternative Service Delivery Models IV Sustainable Workforce V Protect, Maximize & Enhance Revenue Reserve Fund at 6.71% Budget Stabilization Fund at $61.5 million Budgeted 1% of General Fund revenues for capital improvements Partially mitigated accrued police overtime liability Responsible use of onetime revenues Maintenance of effort for street repairs set at 800 miles for 2013-14 and 735 miles thereafter Restoration of fire services linked to deployment plan Police hiring at 10,000 officers maintained Restored library services Approved formation of an Economic Development Department and completed consolidation of Office of Public Safety into LAPD Convention Center management agreement approved Economic Development non-profit implementation in progress to attract and retain businesses in the City New marketing program adopted between Zoo and GLAZA New private parking contractors identified, Council approval pending Contained staff growth to 0.2% from 2012-13 levels Tier II for civilian employees begins on July 1, 2013 Minimized service impacts and avoided furloughs or layoffs through the pursuit of labor concessions Assumes no future salary increases through 2018 and assumes employee contributions of 10% of medical premiums Identify 71% ongoing and 29% one-time solutions to balance budget Enhancements to collection efforts Improved transportation grant accounting provided additional $42 million one-time revenue Review of 900 special funds to ensure proper General Fund cost reimbursement Alternative financing methods for major infrastructure projects 3
2013-14 Budget Solutions Leading into 2013-14, the City reduced the previously projected $1 billion budget gap by 80% The 2013-14 Budget addresses deferred liabilities and investments to City services and infrastructure. In addition to closing the $216 million budget gap, the City is increasing the budget for new services and facilities by $121 million. 400 2013-14 Adopted Budget Solutions Millions 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 216 Previously Projected Deficit One-Time Revenue $133 Other Changes $18 Efficiencies and Reductions $17 Pension Savings $56 Economy-Driven Revenues $113 Budget Solutions Source: City of Los Angeles, Office of the City Administrative Officer 4
Major General Fund Revenue Stabilized % Change from Year Ago 5% 0% -5% -10% Seven General Fund Taxes Property (includes VLF and ex-cra receipts), Utility, Business, Sales, Hotel, Documentary and Parking Taxes % change -- Left Scale 7 General Fund Taxes ($Billions) -- Right Scale Pre-recession Level 15% Actuals Estimates 10% 7.0% -4.8% 1.9% 0.8% 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Fiscal Year Ending 3.3% 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 $ Billions Source: City of Los Angeles, Office of the City Administrative Officer Actual General Fund revenues in 2012-13 exceeded 2012-13 Budget by $116.7 million. Property Tax Year end surplus primarily due to early receipt of secured property tax revenues ($24 million) which will correspond to a lower receipt in 2013-14. Ex-CRA Funds Higher than expected incremental tax receipts. However, in 2013-14 receipts are expected to be down due to lower than estimated receipts from due diligence review. Business Tax, Utility Users Tax, Parking Users Tax receipts were below plan which will lower the base amounts for 2013-14 The City is projecting conservative revenue growth of 3% annually. 5
Economy Shows Signs of Improvement Economic indicators show signs of recovery. The City s economy is recovering although the City and economy are at risk if another federal shutdown occurs or the debt ceiling fight continues. Important tourism and trade industries are performing strongly. Taxable sales have increased 19.4% from their recession-era lows in 2009. Average annual wages in the City grew 2.9% from 2011 to 2012. Home prices in the City trended upward throughout 2012 and reached four-year highs in the first quarter of 2013. Foreclosures in the City fell by 54.5% from the first quarter of 2012 to the first quarter of 2013. For the first quarter of 2013, retail vacancy rates were at their lowest point in four years. Vacancy rates for industrial properties have dropped from 8.7% in the first quarter of 2012 to 7.3% in the first quarter of 2013. Source: Beacon Economics 6
2013-14 Adopted Budget Reflects Conservative Revenue Projections $ Variance 2012-13 Actual from 2012-13 % Variance from $ Thousands Receipts 2013-14 Budget Actuals 2012-13 Actuals Property Tax $ 1,550,389 $ 1,549,568 $ (821) -0.05% Property Tax Ex-CRA Inc. $ 58,839 $ 55,434 $ (3,405) -5.79% Utility Users' Tax $ 620,448 $ 641,598 $ 21,150 3.41% Business Tax $ 448,832 $ 470,728 $ 21,896 4.88% Sales Tax $ 338,970 $ 352,790 $ 13,820 4.08% Documentary Transfer Tax $ 147,282 $ 160,106 $ 12,824 8.71% Transient Occupancy Tax $ 167,824 $ 174,423 $ 6,599 3.93% Parking Users' Tax $ 89,423 $ 94,947 $ 5,524 6.18% Licenses, Permits, Fees and Fines $ 724,702 $ 832,712 $ 108,010 14.90% Residential Development Tax $ 2,379 $ 2,100 $ (279) -11.74% All Other $ 518,145 $ 532,486 $ 14,341 2.77% Total General Fund $ 4,667,233 $ 4,866,892 $ 199,659 4.28% Sources of General Fund Revenue for Fiscal Year 2013-14 Licenses, Permits, Fees and Fines 17% Power Revenue Transfer 5% Parking Fines 3% 7 Major General Fund Revenues 72% Miscellaneous Revenue 2% Transfers from Special Funds 1% 7 Source: City of Los Angeles, Office of the City Administrative Officer
Multi-Year Budget Outlook Assumptions for budget outlook include: Civilian employees will pay 10% of medical premiums No cost-of-living increases for 2014-15 and beyond No 5.5% raise on Jan. 1, 2014 Continue to manage police overtime Millions Millions $5,300 $5,200 $5,100 $5,000 $4,900 $4,800 $4,700 $4,600 $4,500 $5,400 $5,300 $5,200 $5,100 $5,000 $4,900 $4,800 $4,700 $4,600 $4,500 $4,400 $4,550 8 Four Year Budget Outlook 2013-14 to 2017-18 Based on Adopted Budget $4,867 $5,032 ($153) $4,879 Fiscal Year $5,127 ($112) $5,014 $5,252 ($96) $5,156 Four Year Budget Outlook 2013-14 to 2017-18: Alternative without Labor Concessions $5,285 $6 $5,279 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 Revenues (Proposed) Expenditures (Proposed) $4,550 $4,867 $5,120 ($242) $4,879 Fiscal Year $5,216 ($201) $5,014 $5,341 ($184) $5,156 $5,368 ($83) $5,285 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 Revenues (Alternative) Expenditures (Alternative)
Record High Reserve Balances The City s Reserve Fund is strong. The City maintains a cash Reserve Fund for contingencies and emergencies. The City has met its Charter mandate for a 2.75% emergency reserve. This year, the City met its policy goal of 5% of General Fund revenues. Set-aside fund balance of over $400 million includes: $326.7 million Reserve Fund on July 1, 2013 (6.71% of General Fund Revenues - highest ever) $61.5 million Budget Stabilization Fund (After $8 million is transferred to General Fund per Adopted Budget) $21 million Unappropriated Balance The City has adopted policies with respect to Budget Stabilization Fund for future contributions and limit withdrawals based on rules. The City adopted an encumbrance policy that provided additional reversions to increase the Reserve Fund at year-end. Source: City of Los Angeles, Office of the City Administrative Officer 9
Pensions and Benefits Estimated Contributions Future City pension contributions are growing at a reduced rate. $1,400 $1,200 $1,000 $800 $600 $400 $200 $0 Estimated Future City Contributions to Pensions ($ in millions) $1,275 $1,213 $1,190 $1,094 $1,127 $948 $999 $1,046 $943 $848 $745 $789 $670 $683 $721 $537 $617 $643 $576 $506 $411 $382 $424 $468 $486 $342 $367 $403 $444 $469 LA City Employees' Retirement Fund LACERS New Contribution Amount Fire And Police Pension Fund FPPS New Contribution Amount Strong investment returns are keeping funded ratios over 70%. 100% 75% 50% Pension Systems Funded Ratio 25% 0% 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 Fire and Police Pension Plan L.A. City Employees' Retirement System 100% Other Post-Employment Benefits Funded Ratio 75% 50% 25% 0% 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 Fire and Police Pension Plan L.A. City Employees' Retirement System Source: City of Los Angeles, Office of the City Administrative Officer 10
Authorized City Staffing The civilian workforce has been maintained near its lowest point in more than three decades. Staffing has been maintained at its current level which is down 14% from its peak in 2007-08. 40,000 35,000 Authorized City Staffing (Not Including Proprietary Departments) 35,459 35,879 35,974 35,415 36,156 36,667 37,173 36,971 35,864 32,965 32,274 31,816 31,893 (14%) 30,000 25,000 20,000 21,701 22,080 22,167 21,610 22,324 22,723 22,929 22,718 21,852 19,225 18,597 18,169 18,187 15,000 10,000 5,000-13,758 13,807 13,832 14,244 14,012 13,799 13,805 13,944 14,253 13,677 13,706 13,740 13,647 Source: City of Los Angeles, Office of the City Administrative Officer 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 Police (Sworn and Civilian) Others 11
Strengths The City s budget is based on conservative revenue assumptions. The City addresses budget gaps primarily through ongoing solutions. The 2013-14 Budget provides flexibility for uncertainties. Set-aside fund balance of over $400 million. The underlying economics of the Los Angeles region set the stage for a strong economic recovery. Challenges The City s budget outlook continues to show deficits over the next several years. Scenario which shows a surplus by 2017-18 depends on labor concessions. Focus on service restoration needs to be balanced with resources. External factors (i.e. federal government) and impact to economy. 12