Your guide to the L.A. County District 1 supervisor’s race: Who will replace Hilda Solis?

One of the biggest challenges facing the county has been budget deficits, caused in large part by wildfire costs, federal funding cuts and big legal settlements.

Almario and Durazo both support the Essential Services Restoration Act, a half-cent sales tax on June’s ballot to help compensate for federal healthcare cuts.

Asked how she would close budget gaps, Almario said the county must conduct greater oversight over its funds and programs to lessen the likelihood of large legal payouts and to “eliminate inefficiencies.”

Durazo said one reason for deficits is the county spends so much on services for low-income residents who can’t afford things like housing and healthcare on their own. As supervisor she would do more to support jobs that pay a living wage, so residents rely less on county services. One way she proposed to do so was to direct county contracts to companies who promise to add jobs that allow people to live a decent life.

“One thing that I truly believe in and have done my whole life is raising wages,” Durazo said.

Alaniz declined an interview, but in response to a Times questionnaire she cited “a growing disconnect between spending and results” as one of the county’s biggest challenges.

“We are investing significant resources, but many residents still feel like their communities are becoming less stable, not more,” she said. “We need to focus on coordination and accountability.”

Durazo also called for more accountability and transparency “to be able to say we are comfortable in how our money is being spent.” And she supports a receivership for L.A. County’s troubled juvenile halls — something California Atty. General Rob Bonta is attempting.

Almario also supports receivership for the juvenile system as well as greater oversight over spending on homelessness.

When it comes to the high cost of living, she wants to establish a free county grocery store for residents and supports a countywide rent freeze until incomes are more in line with housing costs.

“If we don’t do something drastic [like a rent freeze], we are going to have an influx of more unhoused people,” Almario said.

Durazo wants to look more closely at what isn’t working to address homelessness and adjust accordingly.

She also said her focus on jobs that pay a living wage would help families afford more and that she supports additional eviction protections for county residents.