St. Louis Board of Aldermen

Voters approved the 3% tax in April 2023 with the intent to “address historic inequalities."

In 2017, 66 projects were approved for tax incentives. That number dwindled to 11 in 2023.

Mayor Tishaura Jones plans to sign the bill, which allows dispensaries to stay open until 10 p.m. Currently, those businesses must close at 8 p.m.

Three other proposed changes will be on the Nov. 5 ballot. They would require 60% approval to be adopted.

The board sent four other proposed charter changes to Mayor Tishaura Jones. Her office says she is reviewing the legislation.

The two bills lay out access requirements for attorneys, elected officials, clergy and members of the Detention Facilities Oversight Board. Any person who inappropriately denies access could face a $500 fine.

The proposal would levy a 3% fee on the price of a short-term rental. The revenue would go toward affordable housing.

In addition to passing the budget for fiscal 2025, aldermen also teed up several major policy proposals for passage before they go on their shortened summer recess.

Cara Spencer, currently the 8th Ward alderwoman, announced on social media on Thursday that she plans to challenge Mayor Tishaura Jones in 2025. The two faced off in 2021, when Jones won by 4 percentage points.

Proponents of the bill said it would relieve poor residents of a financial and mental burden. That's despite a recently released working paper by economists that shows the positive effects of medical debt forgiveness may be limited.