Voters Will Decide Whether to Expand the LA County Board of Supervisors
On Tuesday, July 30, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors took the final step to put a governance and ethics reform resolution, which would expand the board from five supervisors to nine, on the November 2024 ballot.
The goal of the proposed expansion, which would take place in 2030, after the next redistricting process, is to increase representation for the 10 million people who call Los Angeles County home.
The resolution would also establish the County Executive as an elected position (rather an a position appointed by the County Supervisors) by 2028.
The elected County Executive would function much like a Mayor, Governor, or President, with the Board of Supervisors serving as the legislative branch like a City Council, State Legislature, or Congress, according to Third District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath’s office. Horvath, along with Supervisor Janice Hahn, introduced the original motion moving the board toward putting the proposed charter amendment before voters.
In addition to amending the LA County Charter to expand the Board of Supervisors and elect a County Executive, the measure would:
- Require all items to be posted to the public board agenda at least 120 hours (5 days) before a regular board meeting (by 2026)
- Establish an independent LA County Ethics Commission and Office of Ethics Compliance (by 2026)
- Establish the position of Director of Budget and Management, as well as a County Legislative Analyst (by 2028)
- Establish a Governance Reform Task Force and Charter
Review Commission - Authorize the suspension, with or without pay, of an elective County officer who has been criminally charged with a felony related to a violation of official duties
- Prohibit former County officials for a minimum of two years after leaving County service from lobbying the County
- Require the presentation of Department budgets during a public meeting
The changes would be funded using existing County money sources.
“History has shown us that we need major reforms to LA County governance to be truly accountable and responsive to the needs of communities across LA,” said Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. “We need more diverse voices with a seat at the table.”
Los Angeles County’s governmental structure has not been changed since it was originally formed in 1912. Since then, it has added over 9.5 million more constituents to its boundaries.