Funding

Aldermen at Monday’s hearing mostly asked broader questions about the legislation, wanting to know more about the mechanisms for neighborhood development, provisions for city workers and new child care programs.

There were more applicants local to St. Louis in the finalist round this year than in the past. And the majority of the awardees came from the region.

The amendment's supporters say “adequate funding is needed” to keep Kansas City safe, but Mayor Quinton Lucas opposes the proposed amendment because it “takes power” from local officials.

Request includes $35M for ‘newcomers,’ comes amid projected state budget deficit.

Illinois advocates have continued calls to speed up contributions to new Illinois schools funding formula.

Projects whose funding was cut run the gamut, including veterinary technician programs at a few community colleges, salary increases for the Highway Patrol, removing vacant properties in St. Louis County and a handful of proposals to mediate erosion and manage stormwater.

The neighborhood generates about 20% of the money that goes into St. Louis’ general fund but only accounts for 5% of citywide spending, according to a new economic impact analysis released Thursday by Greater St. Louis Inc.

The multimillion-dollar projects could serve as blueprints for similar ones at five locks and dams on the Mississippi north of the St. Louis region under the corps Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program.

The city has already received half of the money.

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.