Whose Budget is it Anyway? Demystifying the City of Los Angeles Transportation Budgeting Process (brief)

Abstract

A city’s budget is simultaneously a technical process of estimating revenues and costs, while also a highly political process in which scarce resources are allocated across competing city priorities. Because of this tension, the budget is an area of city governance where critical decisions are made that have direct consequences for equity, but where there has historically been relatively limited direct public involvement. Previous research on public budgeting has largely taken the perspective of the city and how the city might improve its budgeting process. However, research is needed that might directly inform the perspective and expand the capabilities of community-based organizations working to advocate on budget priorities from outside the city government. Working with Investing in Place, a transportation advocacy nonprofit, this research analyzes the budgeting process in the city of Los Angeles, and specifically the role of transportation funding in this process.

About the Project

This capstone project was completed in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Master of Urban & Regional Planning at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.