Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson and City Manager Tom Modica unveiled a proposed fiscal year 2027 budget that would eliminate a net 413 city positions, with city officials estimating about 180 occupied positions could ultimately result in employees losing their jobs if the spending plan is approved. The proposal is designed to close a projected $58.2 million structural deficit in the city’s General Fund through workforce reductions, service cuts and other ongoing savings. Although Richardson restored 70 positions that had been slated for elimination in Modica’s original proposal, hundreds of positions would still disappear across nearly every city department; the 413 figure includes both filled and vacant jobs. “This is the first step. We’re going to be doing that over the next several years to build up our emergency reserve and then also rebuild our operating reserve,” Modica said, urging the council to continue prioritizing reserve funding even as departments seek additional spending in future years. The proposed budget moved to the City Council for a series of public hearings beginning August 4, with community meetings held across the city August 5-11 and a digital comment card open through August 14. Council members may approve, reject or amend the proposal before adopting a final spending plan for the fiscal year beginning October 1. Richardson reaffirmed that homelessness would remain a city priority despite the reductions.