Meeting_Body
MEASURE M INDEPENDENT TAXPAYER OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
MARCH 4, 2026
Subject
SUBJECT: MY METRO BUDGET ACTIVITY
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE ORAL REPORT
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE an oral report and live demonstration of the My Metro Budget Activity and the My Metro Priorities.
Issue
ISSUE
Metro remains dedicated to fostering transparency with riders, the public, and stakeholders. To uphold this commitment, the budget outreach process continues to engage the public through both traditional and new methods. This includes an interactive budget platform designed for public education and feedback. The “My Metro Budget Activity” aims to educate the public about the complexities of Metro’s annual budget and to gather valuable information from riders. New this year, "My Metro Priorities" is a youth-focused (under 18) activity designed to advance the same mission in a simpler format. The insights gained will be instrumental in shaping the development of Metro’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget.
Equity Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
Marketing efforts have been designed to actively engage residents of Equity Focus Communities (EFCs). These efforts have resulted in increased participation from historically underrepresented populations, including individuals who do not have regular access to a vehicle, those with a household income of less than $25,000, and BIPOC communities. Analysis shows that 44% of “My Metro Budget” respondents and 60% of “My Metro Priorities” respondents reside in EFCs (excluding those outside the analysis area). These demographics closely mirror both LA County’s overall population and Metro’s ridership profile.
For FY 2027, the budget development process was promoted through a comprehensive outreach strategy, including the online budget portal, e-blasts, social media campaigns, traditional advertising, flyer distribution by station staff, and youth-group engagement. Metro's goal is to ensure all LA County residents are informed of the opportunity to make their voices heard. This year, the budget activity features a new “Impacts” tool, allowing users to view the staffing impacts of budget changes in real time.
This approach aligns with Metro’s Equity Platform-specifically the “Listen and Learn” and “Focus and Deliver” pillars-reflecting a steadfast commitment to equitable engagement.
Metro remains focused on riders' priorities through these interactive activities. Feedback is compiled into reports for department use during budget development, guiding decision-making to ensure the final budget aligns with the public’s priorities. Key outcomes from this process include increased investments in safety and security, cleanliness, and service frequency and reliability.
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Oren Ben-Joseph, Senior Director, Finance, 213-922-5523
Giovanna Gogreve, Senior Director, Finance, 213-922-2835
Reviewed_by
Reviewed by: Michelle Navarro, Chief Financial Officer (Interim), 213-922-3056