News release
L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger on Tuesday marked the conclusion of her year as chair of the Board of Supervisors, highlighting a year defined by historic challenges, unprecedented wildfire recovery and major fiscal pressures across county services, the supervisor’s office announced in a news release.
During her end-of-term chair remarks, delivered at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Barger reflected on the strength of regional partnerships and the resilience shown by county departments, community organizations and residents, the release said.
“When I took the gavel a year ago, I acknowledged I didn’t know what the year ahead would hold,” Barger said. “That turned out to be an understatement, to say the least. What I did know, and what this year reaffirmed, is that whatever 2025 brought our way, we’d get through it together.”
Barger emphasized that much of 2025 was shaped by the aftermath of the January Los Angeles wildfires — one of the most devastating disasters in county history. Within days of the fires, the county launched disaster recovery centers to help displaced residents access temporary housing, food, clothing, medical care, and federal, state, and local assistance.
More than $27 million in county emergency relief grants were distributed to support residents, workers, small businesses and nonprofits, the release said. Los Angeles County also partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out a debris-removal mission that made it possible for rebuilding to begin just months later, according to the release.
Today, more than 2,550 residents have filed rebuilding permits in Altadena and the Palisades, and over 800 permits have been issued — allowing families to break ground and begin constructing their new homes, the release said. County staff remain in the field, continuing to support survivors at one-stop centers with rebuilding guidance, employment assistance, and access to financial resources. Some households are nearing the final stages of construction and may even spend the holidays in their rebuilt homes, the release said.
“As we enter the next phase of recovery, my commitment is unwavering,” Barger said. “We must equip residents with every resource available. I’m determined to keep this momentum going.”
In addition to wildfire recovery, Barger reviewed the financial challenges the county confronted this year, including nearly $5 billion in pending child sexual abuse settlements, more than $800 million in wildfire-related costs, and federal funding reductions that are already reshaping essential programs.
The federal government shutdown added further strain for families who rely on safety-net programs to meet basic needs, the release said.
Despite these pressures, the county reached a tentative agreement on salaries and benefits with its labor partners, the release said. Barger expressed appreciation for the county’s workforce and departmental leadership for their dedication to maintaining critical services and improving operational efficiency during a difficult fiscal climate. She also emphasized that supporting the county’s workforce is key to delivering consistent, high-quality services well into the future.
Barger highlighted numerous initiatives that advanced the board’s people-centered priorities. This included creating the new Department of Homeless Services and Housing, which is designed to streamline and strengthen the county’s homelessness response system. Thousands of homeless individuals were placed into interim and permanent housing, and several new supportive housing sites opened across the county, the release said.
Other accomplishments she cited included supporting veterans and their families through the launch of a new Arts and Veterans Center, expanding spay and neuter services to protect animals, hiring more veterinarians and animal care officers, combating illegal breeding operations, reducing overcrowding in care centers, and increasing pet adoption efforts.
Throughout her remarks, Barger emphasized that collaboration, perseverance and a shared commitment to residents drove every accomplishment. She thanked her colleagues and the county’s 100,000-employee workforce for their steadfast dedication to public service and for helping improve the lives of millions of residents.
“None of this happened overnight, and none of it happened in isolation,” Barger said. “Each person on this dais, and each member of our 100,000-strong county workforce, played a pivotal role.”
Barger will continue representing the 5th Supervisorial District, which includes the Santa Clarita Valley, as the board enters 2026. First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis will serve as the board’s chair in 2026.