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Record of Proceedings

Budget & Public Employees Committee Meeting - Nov 19, 2025

Board of Aldermen Committees — Thursday, November 20, 2025
BodySt Louis, Missouri
SessionBoard of Aldermen Committees
DateThursday, November 20, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 23:46

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:07

Good morning.

0:08

This is the budget and public employees committee.

0:10

Today is November 19th.

0:12

It is 1007.

0:13

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

0:14

Alder Woman Son Yay.

0:18

Vice Chair Browning.

0:20

Present.

0:20

Alder Woman Velasquez.

0:24

Alderman Devotee.

0:26

Present.

0:27

Chair Aldrich.

0:28

Present.

0:29

Alder Woman Son Ye.

0:32

Auto Woman Velasquez.

0:33

We have three present.

0:35

With that, we have established a quorum.

0:36

I'll take a motion to minutes from Wednesday, November 5th, 2025.

0:41

So moved.

0:42

Second.

0:43

Madam Clerk, please call the row.

0:49

Alder Woman Son Ye.

0:52

Vice Chair Browning.

0:54

Aye.

0:55

Alder Woman Velasquez.

0:57

Alderman Devotee.

0:59

I.

1:00

Chair Aldrich.

1:01

Aye.

1:02

Alder Woman Sun Ye.

1:03

Alder Woman Velasquez.

1:05

We have three I votes.

1:07

With that, we will move to item number four, board's bill for review with the Board Bill, used by all the women, Jamie Cox and Tweet, co-sponsored by Bretton Orion, Shame Clark Hubbard, President Green, Madam Clerk, please add me as a co-sponsor.

1:20

Noted.

1:21

And all the women from the eighth, whenever you're ready, you may proceed.

1:27

Thank you, Mr.

1:28

Chair, members of the committee.

1:30

Today I am here to present Board Bill 100, uh, which is the subject of the earnings tax.

1:35

This board will would put toward the voters the question of whether to renew our city's earnings tax.

1:40

This is a process by state statute, which we have to do every five years.

1:44

Um and the next year updue will be 2026.

1:47

Uh, with me today for this discussion, I have uh budget director Paul Payne as well as representatives uh from the Comptroller's office and uh the city collector of revenues office for any questions.

1:58

Uh and I will now ask uh budget director Payne to come and present a brief presentation on the relevance of renewing this earnings tax.

2:06

Gotcha, gotcha.

2:07

Director, come up, say your first and last name.

2:10

We've missed you since budget season.

2:11

We may start early this year and see you sooner than later.

2:14

Good morning, Mr.

2:15

Chairman.

2:15

Uh, my name is Paul Payne on the budget director.

2:17

Good morning.

2:18

Good morning.

2:19

Uh yes, I'd like to start with the presentation this morning.

2:23

Uh as you can see, uh it's on screen, so I'll just uh go right into it.

2:28

Um just to recap what what uh we we just discussed.

2:33

Uh in November 2010, the voters were asked to reaffirm uh both uh Kansas City and St.

2:38

Louis reaffirm the earnings tax every five years.

2:41

We have done that uh the last uh in 2011.

2:46

Uh we approved it by 88 percent of the vote, 72 percent in 2016, and 79 percent in 2021.

2:53

And this would be the next fourth of these votes, which is due in April of 2026.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Budget█████████████████████████████████████████████80%
Procedural███████████20%
Summary of Proceedings

Budget and Public Employees Committee Meeting - November 19, 2025

The Budget and Public Employees Committee convened on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, to review Board Bill 100, a measure to renew the City of St. Louis earnings tax. The committee heard testimony from Budget Director Paul Payne regarding the tax's critical role as the city's largest general revenue source, comprising 38.2% of the budget. Following extensive discussion on the fiscal consequences of not renewing the tax and potential impacts on city services and debt financing, the committee unanimously approved the bill with a "due pass" recommendation for a ballot vote in April 2026.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of the minutes from the Wednesday, November 5th, 2025, meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • There was no public testimony, neither in person nor in writing, submitted for Board Bill 100 during this meeting.

Discussion Items

  • Board Bill 100 (Earnings Tax Renewal):
    • Budget Director Paul Payne presented the necessity of the earnings tax, noting it generated $208.5 million in the last fiscal year and funds services exceeding the costs of the Police, Fire, Corrections, Forestry, and Park maintenance departments combined. Director Payne stated that replacing the earnings tax revenue would require a 52.9% increase in property tax rates or a sales tax rate increase to over 13.7%, both of which are fiscally unviable. He also highlighted that elimination of the tax would risk the city's creditworthiness and jeopardize existing bond financings reliant on this revenue stream.
    • Alderwoman Jamie Cox (Sponsor) presented the bill to renew the earnings tax for 2026. She argued that the 1% earnings tax is fiscally superior to alternative tax hikes and is essential for the city's longevity. Speaker expressed full support for the board bill.
    • Vice Chair Browning questioned the committee members on the risks to city services if the tax were not renewed. Speaker stated that without the tax, all services ranging from fire to street maintenance would be at risk of a permanent loss of funding. Speaker expressed strong support, noting the tax is vital for the police and other services, and formally added themselves as a co-sponsor.
    • Alderman Devotee questioned the feasibility of other revenue sources given the city's current challenges. Budget Director Payne clarified that while the property tax is the largest single source of tax revenue overall, the majority belongs to other jurisdictions (like the school board), and the city's share is insufficient. He noted that sales and property taxes are either regressive, restricted by state statute, or already at high levels. Speaker expressed concern regarding voter rejection but accepted the committee's position on the bill's necessity.
    • Committee Members (Son Ye, Velasquez) added themselves as co-sponsors. Speaker expressed full support for the legislation.

Key Outcomes

  • The committee approved Board Bill 100 with a "due pass" recommendation.
  • The bill will be placed on the April 2026 ballot subject to a referendum to renew the one percent earnings tax on residents and non-residents working in the city.
  • The next budget committee hearing is scheduled for December 3rd at 6:00 PM to discuss the Rams bond interest.
  • The meeting was adjourned with all members in favor.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning. This is the budget and public employees committee. Today is November 19th. It is 1007. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Alder Woman Son Yay. Vice Chair Browning. Present. Alder Woman Velasquez. Alderman Devotee. Present. Chair Aldrich. Present. Alder Woman Son Ye. Auto Woman Velasquez. We have three present. With that, we have established a quorum. I'll take a motion to minutes from Wednesday, November 5th, 2025. So moved. Second. Madam Clerk, please call the row. Alder Woman Son Ye. Vice Chair Browning. Aye. Alder Woman Velasquez. Alderman Devotee. I. Chair Aldrich. Aye. Alder Woman Sun Ye. Alder Woman Velasquez. We have three I votes. With that, we will move to item number four, board's bill for review with the Board Bill, used by all the women, Jamie Cox and Tweet, co-sponsored by Bretton Orion, Shame Clark Hubbard, President Green, Madam Clerk, please add me as a co-sponsor. Noted. And all the women from the eighth, whenever you're ready, you may proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the committee. Today I am here to present Board Bill 100, uh, which is the subject of the earnings tax. This board will would put toward the voters the question of whether to renew our city's earnings tax. This is a process by state statute, which we have to do every five years. Um and the next year updue will be 2026. Uh, with me today for this discussion, I have uh budget director Paul Payne as well as representatives uh from the Comptroller's office and uh the city collector of revenues office for any questions. Uh and I will now ask uh budget director Payne to come and present a brief presentation on the relevance of renewing this earnings tax. Gotcha, gotcha. Director, come up, say your first and last name. We've missed you since budget season. We may start early this year and see you sooner than later. Good morning, Mr. Chairman. Uh, my name is Paul Payne on the budget director.

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