SONC Supports Proposed Restoration of NC Funding

Posted on 07/12/2025

The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) in a 12-0 vote at its June 9, 2025 meeting adopted a position to support Council File 25-0600-S7 which proposes the restoration of Neighborhood Council funding after the original City budget proposal sought to slash NC funding.

Adopted motion:

The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 25-0600-S7, which seeks to restore Neighborhood Council (NC) budgets to FY 24-25 levels and in doing so amends a proposed cut in funding. NCs provide valuable representation, community engagement, support to charitable organizations, and other benefits to stakeholders as volunteer boards. NCs are a valuable service as the City’s most local form of government and an important connection for constituents to the City. Due to relatively low cost and high return, restoring NC funding is fiscally wise; SONC accordingly applauds CMs Park and Padilla for bringing forth this motion. 

SONC also supports the NC Budget Advocates’ recommendations for reforms:

1. The Four-Year General Fund Budget Outlook needs to be updated to reflect anticipated raises for City employees. 
2. Develop a two-year budget as recommended by the City Controller. 
3. Conduct open and transparent labor negotiations that require significant outreach to Angelenos before, during, and after the negotiations. 
4. Place a measure on the ballot that would prohibit the City from entering into any labor agreement that would create a current or future deficit. In the short term, pass an ordinance. 
5. Develop long-term infrastructure plan to address deferred maintenance & capital expenditures.
6. Create a robust Reserve Fund that can only be used in declared emergencies, not to balance the budget as is the current procedure. 
7. Establish an Office of Transparency and Accountability as recommended by the LA 2020 Commission to oversee the City’s budget and finances in real time

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