LOS ANGELES, CA – Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez introduced a suite of motions advancing a coordinated set of fiscal safeguards to protect Los Angeles taxpayers in preparation for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including an independent third-party audit of the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games (LA28) prior to its dissolution and a proposed ballot measure establishing a dedicated revenue stream modeled after protections used during the 1984 Olympics.
Both items build upon her recent motion to protect Los Angeles taxpayers by formally establishing a “Zero-Cost Principle” in the Los Angeles City Charter to ensure the City is fully reimbursed for all costs associated with hosting the Games.
“Los Angeles twice set the gold standard as an Olympic host city by protecting taxpayers while delivering a financially successful Games,” said Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez. “To ensure the protection of taxpayers, my motions call for a “Zero-Cost Principle” to go before voters, a full independent audit of LA28 to ensure public resources are properly accounted for, and a ticket tax modeled after the 1984 Olympics to provide dedicated revenue safeguards that protect City services so they are not impacted by the financial demands associated with hosting the Games.”
BACKGROUND:
Councilwoman Rodriguez’s first motion instructs the Chief Legislative Analyst, with assistance from the City Administrative Officer, to bid and award an independent third-party auditor to conduct a fiscal audit of the LA28 organization in 2026 and prior to the dissolution of the organization. The motion also requests LA28 to finance the audits.
Councilwoman Rodriguez’s second motion directs the City Attorney to prepare and present the necessary documents to place a measure on the November 2026 ballot establishing a 10 percent tax on ticket sales beginning January 1, 2027. Modeled in part on the revenue tools used during the successful 1984 Summer Olympics, the proposal would create a dedicated fund to help cover potential LA28 cost overruns while protecting core City services. Any unused revenues would be transferred to the City’s General Fund following the conclusion of the Games in 2029.