ST. LOUIS — A push for more Board of Aldermen scrutiny of tax abatement deals following the recent indictments of three former board members related to such legislation stirred some emotional debate Thursday.
The issue came up when Alderman Tina Pihl asked that two unrelated tax break bills be brought up for separate discussion instead of being passed without debate as part of a long list of legislation regarded as non-controversial. Any board member can make such a request.
Pihl had no objections to the two bills in question — aiding development of a new funeral home in the Ville neighborhood and two new homes on vacant lots in the Bevo Mill area. Both ended up passing unanimously during the videoconference meeting after sponsors explained them.
But Pihl said the board should give tax incentive bills in general a closer look from now on.
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“They really impact the city and the schools and the taxing districts,” said Pihl, of the midtown 17th Ward. “And they deserve to be voted on individually, especially in light of the situation that we’ve had with the indictments.”
Constituents, Pihl added, “deserve transparency and accountability.”
But Alderman Pam Boyd said tax abatements in her 27th Ward and other economically depressed areas on the north side are vitally needed to spur development. As for transparency, Boyd said, people in her community already get details from her on the projects she sponsors.
She said Pihl’s midtown area, which includes the Grove area and part of the Central West End, had prospered over the years with such city tax breaks.
“Allow us to get what we need for our communities,” Boyd said. “We’re 20 years behind benefiting from these projects.” She said Pihl, who was just elected last year, “walked into a gold mine” with the development in her ward.
In an apparent reference to the three ex-aldermen charged in federal indictments, Boyd said “these people that did whatever they did, that’s them. But I can’t account for them. I have to account for me and my community.”
In response, Pihl said she also wanted the north side to get more tax breaks and development.
“I want them to be put on the north side,” she said. “I don’t want all the development and all these incentives to be put here (in her ward).”
Pihl, who struggled more than once to hold back tears during her comments, said she has given close scrutiny since taking office to tax breaks requested by developers in her ward “and I am trying to do something different.”
Pihl has required some projects to divert money to affordable housing and other efforts. “I’m trying, I’m trying my best,” she said.
Boyd chairs the board’s Black caucus; Pihl, a part of the board’s progressive faction, also is Black.
Former Aldermen John Collins-Muhammad and Jeffrey Boyd along with former board president Lewis Reed are accused of accepting bribes in exchange for legislation granting tax abatements for properties owned by an area businessman. They each have pleaded not guilty. Jeffrey Boyd and Pam Boyd are not related.
Budget, pay hikes passed
Aldermen on Thursday also passed a $1.2 billion city budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and pay raises for city employees.
Passage had been expected because the board on Tuesday had given the measures overwhelming preliminary support.
Under the pay bill, civil service workers will get an immediate 3% across-the-board increase plus a 1.5% step increase on the anniversary date of their hiring. They also will get a $2,000 bonus next month.
The budget also includes money to cover six weeks of paid family and medical leave; details of that policy have yet to be worked out by city personnel officials.
Missouri Jobs With Justice, a coalition of union and community groups, commended aldermen and Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, who requested the new leave program.
“This will help those who are put into a situation that would negatively impact their finances by having to care for a loved one, child or recover from illness,” said Mark Cavanah, an official with Local 410 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
“We need more leaders to step up and make this a reality across the St. Louis metro area and eventually nationwide.”
Separate pay hike measures were approved for independent county-type offices.
NGA area street work
The board also passed legislation aimed at spurring an additional $54 million in street improvements near the new National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency site.
The bill calls for increasing the amount of city earnings tax payments from NGA employees diverted to the project until 2046.
The $650,000 a year increase in city tax payments and $850,000 annually in additional state income tax payments from the employees will allow the city to sell about $30 million in bonds to help pay for the work. The city also would apply for federal and state grants.
Jacob Barker of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
Posted at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 16.
