Politics & Government

St. Louis County OKs Budget that Spares Parks, Reduces Staff

After a tumultuous two-month period that included threats of park shutdowns, protests and the possible closing of a West County satellite office, council members sign off on a $357 million budget.

The St. Louis County Council has approved a $357 million budget that spares county parks and averts the shutdown of a satellite office in West County.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the budget plan will include cuts in staff through layoffs and through allowing vacant positions to remain unfilled — including 10 positions in the county police department. The Post says those positions do not include patrol officers.

The cuts could involve as many as 50 employees.

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“That won’t be decided until January, where we’re at with those positions,” councilman Mike O’Mara, D-Florissant, told KMOX. The biggest hit is likely to come from the parks department; while no parks will be closed, the department budget is down from $26 million to $22.6 million in in 2012.

The council vote was 5-0. Greg Quinn, R-Ballwin, and Kathleen Burkett, D-Overland, were absent.

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After a budget compromise this month, County Executive Charlie Dooley also agreed to continue funding snow removal in unincorporated areas of the county.

included a plan to close half the county's parks to close a funding gap in the budget. That plan was met by public outcry that outside the county building and within a council meeting.

Council member Steve Stenger, D-South County, said the plan was a non-starter with the council and to review other plans. Those meetings resulted in the compromise with the administration.


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