Budget

The sheriff’s patrol budget is increasing 2% next year. Republican members of the St. Clair County Board say there's not enough deputies. The sheriff has also told the board staffing challenges.

The Maplewood Democrat has represented the council's 5th District since 2019.

Resuming payments at pre-pandemic levels, which were on average $236 a month, could hit revenue from general sales tax and selective sales tax as people shift how they spend.

The St. Louis County Council on Tuesday approved $5 million for cybersecurity improvements and advanced a bill that would freeze property taxes for seniors.

The budget generated little contention, but the bill that would provide legal counsel to tenants facing eviction prompted debate.

Parson said he hopes the significant pay increase will mean a lower turnover rate for state workers.

The St. Louis County Council dipped into reserves in order to bridge a roughly $40 million budget deficit for 2023.

“This budget is nothing more than a campaign tool for Pritzker and the Democratic Party,” Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorn Woods, said.

The Shrewsbury Democrat also discussed efforts to protect children from sex trafficking and expectations for the rest of the 2022 session.

The $28 million increase in the budget is meant to cover some “one-time costs” the county will incur this year, plus wage increases and county projects that were postponed due to the pandemic.