LA county facing financial turmoil after wildfires and $4bn abuse settlement

County to cut budget by almost $90m as it tackles nearly $2bn in fire-related costs and cuts to federal funding

Los Angeles county is experiencing unprecedented financial challenges amid growing costs from the historic wildfires that ravaged the region earlier this year and a $4bn sex abuse case settlement, the county CEO said this week.

The region faces roughly $2bn in expenses related to January's fires, which killed 30 people and destroyed nearly 17,000 structures. Earlier this month the county announced it had a $4bn agreement to settle thousands of claims of sexual abuse in juvenile facilities dating back 1959 - the largest such settlement in US history.