CLAYTON — St. Louis County Executive Sam Page has recommended a next year, including a modest hike in property taxes.
His plan, if passed by the County Council, would trim a roughly $47 million deficit in the county’s general fund, which it uses to pay for most expenses.
Page’s budget proposes a few cuts, an increase in property taxes and a hike in expected revenues.
But it would leave a $27.3 million deficit, and still relies on one-time revenue sources and spending from reserves to cover the gap.
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“This proposed budget allows us to continue operating while we make long-term changes to find the appropriate balance between revenues and spending,†Page wrote in a letter dated Friday to councilmembers.
The deficit has to be fixed in the unrestricted $408 million general fund, the largest in the county’s $1 billion annual budget. That fund pays for police, road repair, transportation for older residents and a shelter for women experiencing domestic violence and their children.
If the county moves forward with Page’s proposal, it would start 2024 with about $90 million in reserves and end with $63 million.
Page’s suggestions rely on increasing property taxes by about 4 cents per $100 in assessed value. For the average home in St. Louis County, worth about $299,000 in market value or $56,700 in assessed value, the annual tax bill would go up by about $22, according to county budget Director Paul Kreidler.
Page also suggested redirecting a surplus in the fund the county uses to pay debt. It would go to the general fund for regular county business instead. Between that and the property tax increase, the county will have roughly $11 million more in its general fund.
Counties can set their tax rates in even-numbered years anywhere at or below a ceiling set by Missouri law, according to the county budget director. The county wouldn’t set it at the maximum rate allowed next year, but it would be higher than this year.
Page’s budget also recommends cutting 26 administrative jobs from the public health department, saving about $2.6 million. Despite the proposed cuts, the health department fund is still expected to face a $12 million deficit.
Page also recommended cutting $718,000 for the ShotSpotter program, a high-tech system used by police to detect gunshots that has had a spotty record locally.
The county expects revenues to increase by 6% or $38 million in its operating budget next year, thanks to the proposed property tax increase, a slight growth in sales tax and taxes on recreational marijuana sales.
The county also expects to get federal money for transportation projects and for housing federal inmates at the jail.
Page resisted using $169.3 million from a settlement against the NFL Rams to fill the budget hole. He instead suggested keeping the money, which came from a lawsuit over the team’s relocation to Los Angeles, in an account that will continue to collect interest.
Page recommended a 4% pay increase for employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement, whose raises are included in negotiated agreements. He also wants to outsource maintenance at the jail for $1.7 million, and he wants to add 16 new corrections officers there for $1.1 million.
The council will hear a presentation from the county budget director at its meeting next week. It then has until the end of the year to approve a final budget.
Council members could take Page’s suggestions, make their own changes or both.