“The city’s spending plan for the next fiscal year has a $10 million hole. Sales and earnings tax revenues are flat or lagging so far this year, with overall revenue expected to be down by roughly 5 percent from estimates. Most new revenue is designated for police and firefighter raises or transit improvements.” Half of that hole can be attributed to the $5 million police overtime pay scandal. The city devotes more than 1/2 of the budget to law enforcement, yet crime murders are high, crime is out of control and there has been ZERO emphasis on eradicating the root issues of crime.

“The city’s spending plan for the next fiscal year has a $10 million hole. Sales and earnings tax revenues are flat or lagging so far this year, with overall revenue expected to be down by roughly 5 percent from estimates.

Most new revenue is designated for police and firefighter raises or transit improvements.”

Half of that hole can be attributed to the $5 million police overtime pay scandal. The city devotes more than 1/2 of the budget to law enforcement, yet crime murders are high, crime is out of control and there has been ZERO emphasis on eradicating the root issues of crime.

A look at St. Louis’ $1 billion budget

Now, the tug-of-war begins over spending priorities and how to fill a $10 million hole.

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Next Post How they flipped the script on development in North St. Louis, between this and developers like Paul Mckee the northside didn’t stand a chance, ”The problem is that many larger urban areas use TIFs too broadly, says St. Louis Alderman Sharon Tyus. “It’s supposed to be used for places that wouldn’t get any development,” she says. “Now, they’re being used as a giveaway.”