Explains the history and current state of the Bureau of Street Lighting and the frozen funding source, 'assessment funds' as a revenue source, the need for a budget increase for faster repairs and more efficient maintenance.
This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting,Guests: Kavish Harjai, transportation correspondent for LAist, and Miguel Sangalang, executive director and general manager for the Bureau of Street Lighting— an area of funding that has been frozen since the 1990s.
An increased budget could mean faster repair times and more efficient maintenance. Why the vote? L.A. established the Bureau of Street Lighting in 1925 — when the city was much smaller. In partnership with property developers, the bureau helped build a patchwork of streetlights.
If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less. In 1996, Proposition 218 required municipalities to seek voter approval for general taxes and fees, such as increasing streetlight funding.
Since then, assessment funds, which account for 90% of the bureau's revenue, have been frozen, leaving the bureau chronically underfunded, according to Miguel Sangalang, the executive director and general manager for the Bureau of Street Lighting. The city's Bureau of Street Lighting says that it takes one year on average to complete repairs due to budgetary constraints. Last year, the bureau had a third party verify and assess the funding it needed to operate — an estimated $125 million.
Why are there holes in my mail-in ballot envelope? Five key U.S. House races in the state's 2026 midterm election could determine party controls of Congress in President Trump's final two years in office. Only one is in SoCal. State lawmakers draft and pass laws that govern the entire state.
Here's a look at some of candidates on the June 2 ballot. If you received a ballot, you must return it by allots are coincidentally due on June 2. This is a Every property gets one vote, though each ballot is weighted based on how much a property owner is expected to pay. Approval of the new assessment would also institute a three-year audit, meaning a third party would account for how the Bureau of Street Lighting spends the money.
Huntington Beach’s MAGA majority showed signs of fracturing over recent allegations of self-dealing. Some say the problem is pervasive. Want to experience the cockpit of a Boeing 747? LA museum expansion prepares to make it happen The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center is built around a towering centerpiece: space shuttle Endeavour in its 20-story vertical launch position.
The L.A. City Council could also supplement the bureau's budget, which it has done in the past, according to Sangalang. City Council offices can assist with repairs in their districts through discretionary funds. The mayor also has the ability to fund such projects through an executive order.
Calling your local council member's office and asking for more funds to go to local street light improvements could help expedite the repair completion process. You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community.
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Bureau Of Street Lighting Frozen Funding Assessment Funds Prop 218 Voter Approval Property Developers Patchwork Of Streetlights Fast Repair Times Better Maintenance City Council Discretionary Funds Executive Order Calling Local Council Members
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