APPROPRIATIONS: WHERE THE MONEY GOES

The 2023 budget for all funds is $984,122,568, an increase of $38,947,325 or 4.1%1. This budget supports all operating departments of the county, highway capital projects, the Spirit of St. Louis Airport, debt service obligations, and distributions to Bi‐State/Metro for public mass transit but does not include grant funds or trust and agency funds which are appropriated when received.

The budget is organized within funds, each of which functions as a separate “checkbook” with various legal and operational requirements. The 2023 budget includes appropriations from 25 funds, with 55.5% coming from the four general funds which are the main operating funds of county government.

The “operating budget” (see table above) is the primary means by which most of the financing, acquisition, spending, and service delivery activities of the county are controlled. The operating budget is $732,730,535, an increase of $16,416,714 or 2.3%. The largest area of spending is Public Safety (36.3%) while the largest type of expenditure is salary and fringe benefits (52.6%) (see charts, below).

The budget for each department/office is discussed below. The budget maintains existing programs and service levels, however there are several changes that impact most departments and offices:

 An increase of $711,000 due to updated costs for retirement, medical insurance, worker’s compensation, and unemployment compensation.

 An increase of $3.7 million will provide for employee pay increases in 2023 except for elected officials and employees covered by collective bargaining agreements (who receive increases per the terms of their agreement).

 An increase of $4.6 million will provide funding required for the county’s insurance program.

 The County Council reduced the County Executive’s Recommended Budget by $25.0 million. Most of these reductions removed the value of 75% of positions vacant in December 2022.

Operating Budget by Function

General Government

Recreation & Culture

Economic Dev. & Infrastructure

Operating Budget by Category

Capital Outlays

Transfer Payments

Other Expenses

Personal Allowances

Health and Well-Being

Public Safety

Positions

Salaries & Wages

Commodities

Purchsaed Services

Payroll Fringe

The budget funds 4,994 positions or 4,562.3 full‐time equivalents (FTE), a decrease of 52 positions or 35.5 FTEs compared to the 2022 adjusted level.

2023 FTE BY FUNCTIONAL AREA

Economic Development & Infrastructure

Health & Well‐Being

Budget Summaries

The following summaries provide an overview of the budget organized by functional area. These functional areas include Economic Development and Infrastructure, Health and Well‐Being, Public Safety, Recreation and Culture, and General Government. More detailed information on each department’s budget, priorities, and performance measurements can be within each department or office’s narrative later in this document.

Economic Development & Infrastructure

St. Louis Economic Development Partnership

The St. Louis Economic Development Partnership is the regional economic development organization which attracts, retains, and facilitates growth of businesses in St. Louis County and City. The Partnership works with economic development partners to help companies of all sizes thrive in the St. Louis region. The Partnership serves as the convener of strategic regional economic development initiatives.

The St. Louis Economic Development Partnership is responsible for the management of:

 Attracting, retaining, and growing businesses and jobs and increasing capital investment

 Advancing community investment, The St. Louis Promise Zone, and redevelopment of strategic real estate assets

 Supporting startups and the entrepreneurial communities and facilitating access to resources

 Accelerating growth of the region’s foreign‐born populations through the Mosaic Project

 Increasing foreign trade and investment

 Facilitating major economic development projects

The 2023 county investment in the Partnership is $4,486,000, an increase of $146,000 or 3.4%. This increase is due to employee pay increases planned for 2023.

Department of Planning

The mission of the Department of Planning is to foster healthy communities by guiding development and reinvestment, developing long‐range plans, promoting citizen engagement, and using data and information technology to guide public policy. Core business functions of the department include the management of:

 Administering the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances

 Preparing community plans, small area studies, and other small geography planning documents

 Preparing the County’s Comprehensive Plan and guiding its implementation

 Monitoring annexations and municipal boundary changes throughout the County

 Processing petitions for changes in zoning and other special procedures as outlined in the Zoning Ordinance

 Site development plan and subdivision plat review

 Staffing of the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment

 Subdivision and land disturbance escrow management

 Home day care licensing

 Outreach and planning in targeted communities

 Corridor and small area/community plans

 Serves as the County’s liaison to the Boundary Commission

 Responding to citizen inquiries

The 2023 budget for the Department of Planning is $970,461, a decrease of $1,266,587 or 56.6%. This decrease is due to the elimination of a one‐time appropriation of $1 million in the 2022 budget to update the county’s comprehensive land use plan.

Spirit of St. Louis Airport

The mission of the Spirit of St. Louis Airport is to provide a safe, efficient, dependable, and attractive first‐class public facility that professionally serves the users and tenants. The airport strives to maintain its role as a major air transportation facility for the St. Louis region while continuing to be a responsive and responsible neighbor to the surrounding community.

Spirit of St. Louis Airport is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Carrier Certified Airport and is responsible for the management of:

 A self‐supporting enterprise fund through the sale of jet fuel

 A 7,485‐foot all‐weather runway

 A 5,000‐foot parallel runway

 Precision Instrument Landing System (ILS) approaches

 FAA Control Tower

 24‐hour United States Customs Service

 24‐hour Airport Police Service

 24‐hour Aircraft Rescue Firefighting response service

The 2023 budget for the Spirit of St. Louis Airport is $35,908,120, a decrease of $1,460,029 or 3.9%. This decrease is due to a reduction in the appropriation projected to be necessary for jet fuel in 2023.

Department of Transportation & Public Works

The mission of the Department of Transportation and Public Works is to promote the health, safety and well‐being of St. Louis County residents by providing a transportation system that supports multi‐modes and encourages regional growth and opportunity; enforce internationally accepted building and property maintenance codes reasonably and judiciously for public health, safety and protection; provide customer friendly building spaces in which to conduct county business; and, support innovative problem solving that enhances public service.

The Department of Transportation & Public Works is responsible for the management of:

 Planning, design, construction, inspection, operation, and maintenance of 3,169 lane‐miles of road

 220 vehicle and pedestrian bridges

 1000+ cross‐road culverts

 1,300 miles of sidewalks

 47 miles of dedicated on‐street bicycle lanes

 12.8 miles of signed bicycle routes

 674 signals and beacons

 250,000 signs

 35 owned buildings (2.9M gross ft2)

 18 building leases (0.3M gross ft2)

 Review of 12,000 plan sets

 Issuance of 57,000 permits

 137,000 construction inspections

 14,800 re‐occupancy inspections

 9,300 property maintenance inspections

 Monitoring of over 1,800 vacant nuisance properties

 Mowing of 3,300 vacant lots

 Capital and operating budget development and oversight

 Supply acquisition and safety training

 Maintenance of 3,628 vehicles, trucks, and engine‐powered equipment

 Maintenance of 2 county‐owned parking garages

 Fuel supply for county vehicles/equipment and municipal fleets by contract

 Contract management of water service line repairs on qualifying residential lines within St. Louis County

 Contract management of sewer lateral line repairs in unincorporated St. Louis County and within municipalities by contract.

The 2023 budget for the department is $108,421,999, an increase of $4,446,276 or 4.3% (not including the Highway Capital Construction Program which is summarized at the end of this chapter). The 2023 budget includes $900,000 to support on‐call maintenance services for County properties, and $500,000 for on‐call civil plan review services. The County Council reduced the department’s budget by $2,945,717 to remove the value of 75% of vacant public works positions ($1,821,490) and to eliminate funding for initiatives to expand neighborhood services ($800,000) and electric vehicle charging infrastructure ($385,000).

Sappington Barracks Road – Full Depth Reclamation

Health & Well‐Being

Children’s Service Fund

The Children’s Service Fund (CSF) works to improve the lives of children, youth, and families in St. Louis County by strategically investing in the creation and maintenance of an integrated system of care that delivers effective and quality mental health and substance use treatment services.

The Fund is responsible for:

 Strategic investments of sales tax revenue

 Ensuring accountability of sales tax revenue through programmatic and financial review of funded agencies

 Evaluating service gaps through community needs assessments, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement

 Developing strategic partnerships with other agencies

 Supporting non‐profit agencies through capacity building and technical assistance

The 2023 budget for the Children’s Service Fund is $83,998,841, an increase of $28,016,946 or 50.0%. This increase will provide the Fund with the appropriation authority necessary to accommodate an overlap in grant funding cycles.

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services is committed to providing the support, services, and resources that help individuals of all ages live safely, productively, and independently. The Department is responsible for the management of:

 Providing services for homeless and potentially homeless individuals and families

 Assisting county older residents with maintaining independent living and quality of life

 Providing information, referrals and case management services for veterans and their families

 Providing community‐based intervention, case management, mental health and youth development services for at‐risk children and youth

 Operating a 39‐bed residential domestic violence shelter for abused women and their children

 A full spectrum of employment services for job seekers and employers funded by the Department of Labor (not included in this budget)

 Increasing Sustainable Economic and Housing Options for Marginalized Populations through federally funded programs (not included in this budget)

The 2023 budget for the department is $3,696,125, a decrease of $1,094,359 or 22.8%. The budget maintains existing programs and services. The budget decrease is due to the transfer of non‐merit positions to the budget of the Office of County Executive due to a recent Charter amendment and a County Council amendment to the recommended budget to remove the value of 75% of vacant positions ($681,065).

Public Administrator

The Office of the Public Administrator is established by state law. Upon appointment by the Probate Court, it shall be the duty of the Public Administrator to take into their charge and custody the estates of all deceased persons, the estates of minors and the persons and estates of all incapacitated and disabled persons in St. Louis County as prescribed by law. The office ensures all persons under their guardianship receive a level of care that promotes their dignity.

The Office of Public Administrator is responsible for the management of:

 Guardianship of incapacitated and disabled individuals

 Estate administration services

 Probate assets of deceased persons subject to loss or damage

 Conservatorship of estate and assets of minors

 Conservatorship of estate and assets of disabled and/or incapacitated persons

 Informing the community through internet and personal interaction

The 2023 budget for the Office of the Public Administrator is $770,342, a decrease of $92,458 or 10.7%. The budget includes $30,000 for new estates management software to improve services and replace the current outdated software and was amended by the County Council to remove the value of 75% of vacant positions ($232,981).

Department of Public Health

The Department of Public Health works to promote, protect, and improve the health and environment of the community. The department’s vision is that St. Louis County has health people, a healthy environment, and equitable communities. The department believes in:

 Being a public health leader in the community

 Providing equitable access to services and resources

 Being responsive to the changing needs of the community

 Operating in an ethical, transparent, and fiscally responsible manner

 Serving the community with dignity and respect.

The Department of Public Health is responsible for the management of:

 Assessing the health status of the population and making information available to the public on communicable and chronic diseases, emerging epidemics, and the social and structural determinants of health

 Assessing the environmental status of the community and making information available to the public on conditions that may contribute to health outcomes

 Preparing for emergencies that may affect the health of the public and participating in deploying a trained public health workforce in the event of any emergency, disaster, or epidemic

 Ensuring the effective enforcement of all codes, ordinances, and best practices related to protecting the health of the public

 Ensuring the availability of services, programs, and access to care necessary to the population based on their health needs either through the direct provision of services or through effective community linkages and partnerships

 Controlling or contracting the operation of all direct clinical services provided by the county including medical care, dental care, preventative care, mental and behavioral health, and treatment of infectious diseases

 Informing and educating the population and acting as a community resource on health‐related topics

 Recommending to the governing entities from time to time such policies as will tend to preserve or promote the public health of the county

 Promoting community partnerships and cooperative relationships with neighboring jurisdictions, state and federal agencies, and local and national organizations for the promotion and protections of the public health of the population

The 2023 budget for the Department of Public Health is $77,935,843, an increase of $1,357,885 or 1.8%. The budget includes an increase of $2.6 million in Corrections Medicine for professional medical services. Corrections Medicine has had difficulties recruiting and retaining medical staff due to low‐noncompetitive government wages and a difficult working environment. As a result, this program is transitioning to a contract‐based model for service delivery. By doing so it allows the Corrections Medicine program to provide the minimum level of service to patients in the jail and function 24/7. In addition, there is a $1.4 million increase for contracted professional medical services in the Division of Health Services. This increase is also a result of difficulties hiring medical staff. Furthermore, central service charges increased by $353,000, and insurance increased by $248,387. With changes in the management of animal shelter operations, the Animal Protective Association (APA) partner contract is $3.2 million which will allow APA to take care of animals in the St. Louis County shelter. To offset increases in the budget, the commodities budget was reduced by $707,117 and salaries were reduced by inactivating 75 positions across the department. The recommended budget was amended by the County Council to remove the value of 75% of vacant positions ($5,421,195).

Emergency Communications Commission

The St. Louis County Emergency Communications Commission (ECC) provides a coordinated council of department leaders from public safety agencies and local government entities, with an emphasis on providing interoperable communications that allow firefighters, emergency management services, police, and other groups to better manage incidents by sharing vital information in a rapid fashion.

The Commission is responsible for the management of:

 Countywide interoperable radio communications

 Upgrading 911 communications in the county

 The Emergency Outdoor Warning Siren network

 Management and support of ESInet (emergency services internet protocol network) and MPLS (multiprotocol label switching) networks

The 2023 budget for the Commission is $19,633,996, an increase of $1,668,375 or 9.3%. This increase is due to salary and fringe benefit changes, additional security monitoring services for communications equipment, and increased expenditures for electronic communications maintenance.

Department of Judicial Administration

The Department of Judicial Administration serves the citizens of St. Louis County by providing access to a fair, impartial, prompt, and cost‐effective system of justice that ensures that all are treated with courtesy and dignity, and that fosters the respect and confidence of the public in an independent judicial system. Funding, other than salaries and benefits for judges and Circuit Clerk personnel and costs of the Law Library, is provided by the County as mandated by state law.

The Department of Judicial Administration is responsible for the management of:

 Providing access to justice using jury and bench trials

 Alternative treatment courts to serve veterans, individuals with substance use disorders (including opioid addiction), mental health issues, alcohol‐related driving offenses and domestic violence issues

 Substance Abusing Families Engaged in Treatment and Intervention (SAFETI) Court to provide close monitoring of parents with substance abuse problems who have children involved in the child welfare system

 Execution of court orders for attachment, replevin, levy under general execution, eviction, and garnishment of execution

 Execution of court orders to apprehend and transport alleged mentally ill, dangerous, and/or incompetent persons to and from mental health facilities and court for hearings

 Programs and services to protect children from abuse and neglect

 Programs and services for delinquent youth

 Prosecution of juvenile delinquency matters

 Safe and secure custody of juveniles within the Court’s Juvenile Detention Center

 Multi‐lingual automated assistance and referrals for victims of domestic violence

 Free marriage ceremonies for all couples who come to the courthouse with a St. Louis County marriage license

 Expanded community partnerships to provide support, counseling, and alternatives to detention for court‐involved youth

 The Exchange Center, which provides a safe, secure environment for the transfer and supervision of children in families with court‐ordered visitation

 The Parent Education Program to help adults understand and cope with the impact of separation and divorce on their children

The 2023 budget for the Department of Judicial Administration is $33,433,785, an increase of $1,133,094 or 3.5%. This growth is due merit pay increases, fringe benefit increases, and additional funding from the State of Missouri associated with the “Raise the Age” law.

Department of Justice Services

The mission of the Department of Justice Services is to serve and protect the community by means of a trained and dedicated workforce, and utilizing best practices to provide supervision, rehabilitation, and opportunities in a safe, secure, and humane environment.

The department is responsible for:

 Serving and protecting the community

 Providing custody, supervision, and guidance to those persons who are mandated to county jurisdiction

 Maintaining the highest level of security ensuring the safety of the community, residents, and staff

 Providing a safe, healthy, and humane environment for detainees and staff

 Encouraging detainees to grow academically, physically, socially, and vocationally

 Providing educational, recreational, religious, and vocational programs

 Advancing staff supervision and leadership

 Supporting the return of detainees back into the community

 Performing human resources, fiscal management, accreditation standards, internal affairs, and programs for detainees and those released

 Processing of all arrested persons conveyed to the Intake Center including warrant data, records checks, fingerprinting, mug shots, classifications, and release authorizations

 Supervision of all resident transfers to courts, clinics, hospitals, and state prisons

 Preventing and mitigating the spread of COVID‐19

The 2023 budget for the Department of Justice Services is $28,064,471, an increase of $904,846 or 3.3%. The budget includes $939,445 to fund 16 new corrections officer positions to provide shift relief and reduce overtime expenditures as part of implementing recommendations of the recent operations review of the department. The County Council amended the recommended budget to remove the value of 75% of vacant positions ($3,259,991).

Municipal Court

The Municipal Court seeks to provide impeccable customer service to the citizens of St. Louis County and all that have a need to conduct business with the court. The Court achieves this customer service by resolving all municipal cases in an expedient manner while upholding the integrity of the court, the ordinances of the county, and the laws of the state.

The 2023 budget for the Municipal Court is $1,232,004, a decrease of $812,806 or 39.7%. This decrease is due to the transfer of 8 positions, including all judge positions and other appointed non‐merit positions, to the County Executive’s Office in accordance with a recent amendment to Section 3.040 of the County Charter. The County Council amended the recommended budget to remove the value of 75% of vacant positions ($262,027).

County Police Department

The mission of the St. Louis County Police Department is to work cooperatively with the public, and within the framework of the Constitution, to enforce the laws, preserve the peace, reduce fear, and provide a safe environment in our neighborhoods.

The department is responsible for the management of:

 Police protection through the patrol of communities and Metro Link Transit services

 Neighborhood police officers and school resource officers supporting the community

 Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trained officers throughout the department to deescalate mental health crises

 Crisis negotiation team to respond to mental health barricaded subjects to deescalate without SWAT

 Community engagement through youth and diversity and inclusion programs

 Investigation of crimes within St. Louis County

 Crime Laboratory scientific support of criminal investigations

 Collect and disseminate criminal intelligence throughout the region via the St. Louis Fusion Center

 Air patrol though a cooperative agreement with St. Louis Metropolitan Police and St. Charles County Sheriff Departments

 Emergency 911 calls received and dispatched by the Bureau of Communications

 Police recruit training and continuing education for current staff at the County and Municipal Police Academy

 Security services provided to all St. Louis County government buildings

 Response plans for countywide emergency situations with the Office of Emergency Management.

The 2023 budget for the department is $168,906,320, a decrease of $796,006 or 0.5%. The budget includes $7.5 million for pay increases approved in collective bargaining agreements, lateral pay, shift differential, and paid family leave. The budget does not include $1.95 million in vehicle replacements that was requested as a 2022 supplemental appropriation to meet next year’s manufacturer ordering deadlines. The County Council amended the recommended budget to remove the value of 75% of vacant positions ($7,690,568).

Prosecuting Attorney

The Prosecuting Attorney represents the citizens of St. Louis County by fairly and effectively prosecuting cases of alleged violations, by promoting public safety, and by advocating and protecting the rights of victims. The Prosecuting Attorney’s mission is to focus on violent crimes and drug addiction while finding alternatives to incarceration for non‐violent offenses. It is also to assist those encountering the justice system with maintaining employment and keeping families together.

The Prosecuting Attorney is responsible for the management of:

 Warrant application process (to include review and charges)

 Criminal Case Management from inception to closure

 Traffic Case Management from inception to closure

 Alternative Court Management (Drug Court, DWI Court, Mental Health Court, Veteran’s Court)

 Diversion Program Management

 Victim Services Management

 Child Support Services

 Taxes and Bad Check Collection

 Community Engagement

 Grand Jury hearings and administration

 Conviction Incident Review Unit

The 2023 budget for the Prosecuting Attorney is $14,833,051, an increase of $564,924 or 4.0%. The budget includes $1.5 million to continue funding 19 new positions that were authorized by the County Council during 2022. The County Council amended the recommended budget to remove the value of 75% of vacant positions ($1,075,431) and funding for vehicle replacements ($175,002).

(in thousands)

Department of Parks & Recreation

The Department of Parks and Recreation works to provide high quality parks, facilities, and recreation services that enhance residents’ lives through responsible and effective management of resources.

The department is responsible for the management of:

 75 Parks with 12,700 acres

 Seven Recreation Complexes

 Six Historical/Cultural Sites

 166 miles of trails

 65 athletic fields

 44 playgrounds

 78 picnic shelters

 590 acres of lakes

 87 restroom buildings

 More than 400 recreational programs annually

 Citizen Volunteer program

The 2023 budget for the department is $37,413,087, an increase of $601,082 or 1.6%. Highlights of the budget request include $145,000 for pool management fees, $45,000 for a work order program, and $60,000 for synthetic turf field maintenance.

General Government

Department of Administration

The Department of Administration promotes the vision and values of St. Louis County government by facilitating the effective delivery of services and providing leadership and support to county departments while ensuring efficient use of resources for county residents.

The department provides administrative services to all St. Louis County offices and departments as well as the public. These services include the management of:

 Performance Improvement and Tracking

 Procurement

 Minority and Women‐Owned Business Development and Inclusion

 Prevailing Wage Enforcement

 Risk Management and Insurance

 Employee Safety

 Human Resources

 Employee Benefits

 Countywide Training on Bias, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

 Fostering Pro‐Equity Policies

 Retirement Plan Administration

 County Financial Investments

 Sales Tax Administration

 Banking Relationships

 Centralized Cashiering

 Records Retention

 Imaging Services

 Mail and Courier Services

 Central Receiving

 County’s Integrated Financial, Procurement, and Human Resources System (CAPS)

 Information Desk Customer Service

 311 Call Center

The 2023 budget for the department is $14,682,858, a decrease of $885,382 or 5.7%. The budget moves, as part of an effort to centralize human resource functions in the County, 17 positions from 6 different departments into the Division of Personnel in Administration. Two new positions (2.0 FTEs) have been added to County Automated Processing Services (CAPS) to provide enterprise resource planning (ERP) support, and 1 new position (1.0 FTE) has been added to Procurement to respond to increased purchasing demand from other departments. Additionally, $240,000 for two new programs, the Center for Mediation and the Institute for Personal & Professional Development, has been included in the budget to expand professional development and provide conflict mediation for all county employees. The request also includes $87,000 to re‐establish the County’s tuition reimbursement program. The County Council amended the recommended budget to remove the value of 75% of vacant positions ($480,369) and the value of three new positions ($299,408).

County Assessor

The County Assessor’s Office seeks to fairly and accurately assess all real and personal property in the county, in accordance with applicable law and professional appraisal practice, and to provide excellent customer service.

The County Assessor is responsible for the management of:

 The accurate and timely classification and valuation of all real property and all tangible personal property in St. Louis County

 The performance of all administrative functions of the two Boards of Equalization

 The review of all petitions for tax‐exemptions of tangible personal property and real property, and submission of recommendations regarding the same to the Boards of Equalization

 The production and updating of official St. Louis County real estate information, including locator maps and maps containing parcel boundary lines

 The maintenance of current and accurate real estate title transfers and related plats, and certificates of value

 Timely, accurate, and customer‐friendly public service by providing property values and reassessment information

The 2023 budget for the County Assessor is $16,815,685, an increase of $1,030,064 or 6.5%. This increase is necessary to adequately fund the office for the 2023 reassessment process.

County Council

The St. Louis County Council seeks to provide the highest standard in transparency in government and enable greater access to government proceedings and records for all St. Louis County citizens. The Council is the elected legislative body of the county and exercises all powers set forth in Article II of the St. Louis County Charter, as well as all other powers set out in laws related to county commissions not superseded by the charter. The Council consists of seven council members representing seven geographic council districts.

The administrative component of the Council includes the offices of County Council Administration, County Clerk, and County Auditor and is responsible for the management of:

 Public records requested by county departments and offices while conducting county business and as requested by the public

 Various petitions that are filed with the County Clerk for appropriate action as prescribed by law

 The recording and live streaming of the weekly Council meetings and Council committee meetings, and subsequent videos for replay on the county website

 Producing and posting notice of all Council meetings and hearings as prescribed by law

 Notary Public commissions for the State of Missouri

 Oaths of office to various board and commission appointees as well as county employees

 The internal audit function of county operations

 The St. Louis County Fraud and Financial Concerns Hotline for anonymous reporting of fraud, waste, mismanagement, or misconduct by employees or residents

 The repository of the permanent record of all ordinances, resolutions, orders, and Council journals

The 2023 budget for the County Council is $2,526,657, an increase of $41,368 or 1.7%. The County Council amended the recommended budget to remove the value of 75% of vacant positions ($204,996) and the value of 5 new positions ($533,935).

County Counselor

The Office of the County Counselor conducts the civil law business of the county, assisting county government in carrying out its policies and operations in an efficient and legally appropriate manner by providing advice and counsel to county departments, offices, boards, commissions, and elected and appointed officials.

The County Counselor is responsible for:

 Representing, in the name and on behalf of the county, all civil suits and other proceedings at law or in equity requisite or necessary to protect the rights and interests of the county and enforcing any and all rights, interests or claims against any and all persons, firms or corporations in whatever court or jurisdiction such action may be necessary.

 Prosecuting all proceedings for the collection of delinquent taxes and licenses of every kind owing to the county and violations of county ordinances.

 Approving as to form all leases, deeds, contracts, bonds, ordinances, rules, regulations, drafts of legislation, and other instruments.

 Providing legal advice and opinions to the council, the County Executive, department heads, elective officials, and to all county boards and commissions, respecting county business.

The 2023 budget for the County Counselor is $5,483,667, a decrease of $3,845 or 0.1%. Changes to the office’s budget include countywide pay and benefit changes and is offset by the 2022 transfer of the County Counselor’s position to the Office of the County Executive budget due to a change in Charter requirements, and a County Council amendment to the recommended budget to eliminate $30,000 for external legal services.

County Executive

The County Executive is the Chief Executive Officer, elected by the voters of St. Louis County to a four‐year term of office, with all executive powers, responsibilities, and duties enumerated within Article III of the St. Louis County Charter, which include directing, coordinating and monitoring the activities of all county administrative units under the County Executive’s control; appointing administrative heads of departments; approving and executing contracts and agreements for the county as authorized; directing the creation of the annual budget; maintaining communications with federal, state and local governments; and directing special projects requiring coordination among county departments.

The 2023 budget for the office is $6,351,412, an increase of $1,372,476 or 27.6%. This increase is due to the annualization of position transfers in accordance with the recently amended Section 3.040 of the St. Louis County Charter, required insurance costs, the 2023 employee pay program, and is partially offset by a County Council amendment to the recommended budget to remove the value of 75% of vacant positions ($429,548).

Board of Elections

The St. Louis County Board of Election Commissioners (BOEC) is a bipartisan, independent body established by the State of Missouri whose mission is to protect the integrity of the voting process by accurately, securely, and efficiently conducting all elections in St. Louis County. The BOEC is responsible for the management of:

 Administering secure and accurate elections in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations

 Processing voter registrations and maintaining a data base of St. Louis County registered voters

 Recruiting and training election judges to staff polling places

 Coordinating access to public and private facilities across St. Louis County to serve as polling places

 Facilitating absentee voting for military and overseas voters, hospitalized persons, nursing home residents, and county voters who cannot vote in person on Election Day

 Providing accurate and timely information to voters and the public through multiple communication methods

 Creating and maintaining maps for townships; municipalities; school, fire, and library districts; and other federal, state, and local jurisdictions

 Verifying voters’ signatures on initiative and referendum petitions

The 2023 budget for the BOEC is $9,478,894, a decrease of $1,421,078 or 13.0%. This decrease is due to a reduction of $3.7 million for state and county election costs which is offset by addition of $2.6 million to replace poll pad hardware and software, employee pay increases, and other operating costs. Also, the County Council amended the recommended budget to remove the value of 75% of vacant positions ($887,434).

Department of Information Technology

The Department of Information Technology (IT) seeks to partner with county departments, offices, agencies, and organizations to determine where and how information technology can be used to improve the services these teams deliver. The department is working to improve communication with residents through web‐based technologies and to provide applications for county departments to create new operational efficiencies and communication improvements. The department will continue to focus on process automation allowing customers to access government services through the county’s websites at their convenience, using any device.

The Department of Information Technology is responsible for the management of:

 County website and internet‐based communications

 Email systems, databases, mapping, and other core applications

 Network and server infrastructure

 PC Support

 Custom applications

 Cybersecurity

 Voice systems and telecommunications infrastructure

 Service Management

The 2023 budget for the department is $11,223,416, a decrease of $543,421 or 4.6%. The budget includes items to support the department’s continuing goal of modernization of communications such as $85,000 for construction costs of a digital public notice display, $30,000 for telephone message management enhancements, and $80,000 for secure employee access to resources on the external CountyNet 2.0 employee portal. The County Council amended the recommended budget to remove the value of 75% of vacant positions ($1,060,448).

Department of Revenue

The mission of the Department of Revenue is to provide quality, customer‐centered information and services to taxpayers, licensees, and document recipients, in addition to obtaining and distributing funding to more than 200 public‐serving agencies improving education, public safety, health, infrastructure and economic growth and opportunity in St. Louis County.

The Department of Revenue is responsible for the management of:

 Property tax billing, collection, and disbursement

 The annual tax sale

 Recording of deeds

 Issuance of marriage licenses

 Issuance of liquor, amusement, and miscellaneous licenses

 Administration of the Trustee Program and Property Owner Advocate Program

 Collection and distribution of convention, tourism, and sports taxes

The 2022 budget for the department is $9,197,532, an increase of $966,557 or 11.7%. The budget includes $350,000 to purchase collection software to automate and streamline tax collection, billing, distribution, tracking, reconciliation, reporting, and analytics for the Collector of Revenue. Other cost increases include salary and fringe benefits due to countywide pay increases, and increased operations costs associated with the 2023 reassessment cycle. The County Council amended the recommended budget to remove the value of 75% of vacant positions ($432,782).

Miscellaneous

The “Miscellaneous” section includes budgets that are not directly related to county departments. These include:

 Special projects ($596,386) including the county’s contributions to East‐West Gateway, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of St. Louis, Elmwood Park fire protection, stipends for members of the Transportation Commission, governmental relations consulting, and various countywide memberships.

 Debt service appropriations within the General Revenue Fund ($8,444,581)

 The county’s contribution to support the operations of: o University of Missouri Extension ($222,922) o Fire Standards Commission ($27,583) o Boundary Commission ($250,533)

 Emergency Fund ($6,771,053) – an appropriation equal to three percent of total estimated general income which may be used for unforeseen expenses upon approval of a resolution of the County Council.

 The Debt Service Fund ($6,815,825) – used to make debt service payments on outstanding general obligation bonds for the Courthouse Project

 The Transportation Trust Fund ($48,467,809) – represents estimated sales tax revenue that could be distributed to Bi‐State Development (Metro) for transportation purposes per ordinance

 The Public Mass Transit Fund ($157,895,700) – an appropriation equal to 100% of anticipated public transportation sales tax revenues (Prop M and Prop A) for future distribution for public transportation purposes per ordinance

 The Lambert East Perimeter TIF Fund ($4,774,457) – used to pay debt service costs related to the Lambert Airport Eastern Perimeter Redevelopment Project

 The Northpointe Forest Subdivision NID Fund ($37,045) – used to pay debt service costs associated with the Northpointe Forest Water Project

 The Residential Energy Loan Program Fund ($186,860) – used to pay debt service costs associated with the St. Louis County Sustainable and Verifiable Energy Savings (SAVES™) program

 The Glencullen Subdivision NID Fund ($38,711) – used to pay debt service costs associated with the Glencullen Subdivision Street Improvement Project

 The Convention and Recreation Trust Fund ($6,618,013) – used to fund the county’s debt service requirements for the Cardinals ballpark project, the Creve Coeur Soccer Complex, and the Convention Center Facility Project. This appropriation also includes the required $1.0 million preservation payment for the domed stadium project and $500,000 for a feasibility study related to a potential track and field complex.

Highway Capital Construction Program

The 2023 budget for the Highway Capital Construction Program (CCP) is $45,028,524, a decrease of $334,998 or 0.7%.2 Table A (below) provides a summary of the 2023 work plan and budget. The budget is in accordance with the Department of Transportation & Public Works’ 5‐year Capital Construction Program (CCP). The 2023 CCP will support project activity of $102.3 million, including $13.7 million of construction work on 2022 and prior year awarded construction projects. The 2023 budget will allow the department to commence and continue design, acquire right‐of‐ way, and let construction contracts for system maintenance, traffic safety, pedestrian and bicycle enhancements, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvement projects.

Maximizing federal funding opportunities is forcing the department to spend less on maintenance activities on roads (not eligible for federal funding) such as subdivision streets. The department is also spending less on maintenance activity for minor streets and other projects which are not competitive for federal funds. In 2023, the department has budgeted $5 million for subdivision street maintenance countywide despite over $44 million needed to rehabilitate subdivision pavement currently rated in poor condition.

The department is committed to maximizing the impact of every taxpayer dollar and will continue to work to obtain funding from alternative sources for all candidate projects to maximize the ability to provide a safe, flexible, efficient, and well‐maintained transportation system. This includes the utilization of federal funding programs such as the Surface Transportation Program (STP), Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program (CMAQ), Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), and the Highway Bridge Program (HBP) whenever prudent. The department will continue to market the county’s needs to leverage alternative funding.

Despite a transportation work plan of more than $408 million over the next 5 years, there are still hundreds of millions of dollars in needed improvement and enhancements on the road network. The department currently estimates that $267 million is needed to complete the ADA transition plan, which is federally mandated; in addition, it has identified $273 million in pedestrian and bicycle enhancements which would benefit the region and is tens of millions of dollars short annually for basic system maintenance

The department needs additional funding to maintain and enhance the road system. This will require a funding source to be identified and must be coupled with a substantial increase in the department’s project development and construction staff to deliver an annual program appropriately sized while continuing to ensure that the county receives quality work and meets Missouri Department of Transportation requirements for projects utilizing federal funds.

2 The 2023 budget for the Transportation Highway Fund includes an allocation of $22,200,000 from the Transportation Sales Tax.

*Funding from various grants, municipal partnerships, public/private partnerships, and Traffic Generation Assessment (TGA). Does not include Special Road & Bridge Funds.

**Includes utility adjustments and other miscellaneous project costs