Budget & Public Employees Committee Meeting: May 18, 2026

The Budget & Public Employees Committee met on May 18, 2026, to review board bills and the city's FY27 operating budget. Key actions included unanimous passage of Board Bill #9, providing a one-time $1,000 payment to city employees and a 7% pay increase for certain fire department classifications. The committee also began discussion of the general operating budget (Board Bill #1), with Budget Director Paul Payne presenting an overview of the $1.41 billion plan. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the police department budget, as departmental representatives were not present. Public testimony overwhelmingly opposed increased police funding and called for greater investment in programs such as Code Blue, Right to Counsel, and the Office of Violence Prevention.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from a prior meeting (noted in the transcript as both Wednesday, May 25, 2026, and Wednesday, March 25, 2026 — a discrepancy exists in the source) were approved unanimously (5–0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mark Orahula (Ward 9): Urged rejection of the proposed police budget, arguing that critical programs like Code Blue (underfunded by $1.5M), the Office of Violence Prevention (requested $12.9M, allocated $8.8M), and Right to Counsel (allocated only 40% of its request) are being shortchanged. He also expressed concern about police collaboration with ICE.
• Alicia Hernandez (Advocacy Director, MICAP; Ward 2 resident): Opposed additional police funding beyond the state-required minimum, citing racial profiling and police cooperation with ICE. She called for full funding of Right to Counsel and the Office of Violence Prevention.
• Nate Lindsay (Dutchtown Council): Criticized the building division for failing to address vacant properties, noting zero full-time inspectors dedicated to vacancy enforcement and over $20M in uncollected fees. He urged funding for building division staffing and growth-oriented policies.
• Julian Holt (Ward 12): Expressed disappointment that police funding continues to increase while community-based solutions are underfunded. He argued that police protect capital, not people, and called for defunding police in favor of social services.
• Helen Bailey (11th Ward): Questioned the need for 300 additional officers given population decline, and advocated for a study of police effectiveness and an audit of police spending. She also highlighted the need to fund recreation centers and redevelopment in North St. Louis.
• Caitlin Kilgo (Ward 7): Opposed a 7% raise for a police department she described as the “most murderous” in the country, noting that one in three children in St. Louis goes to bed hungry. She called for zeroing out the police budget.
• Torin Taylor (ward not specified): Challenged the committee to cut police funding and confiscate police hardware, referencing unnecessary militarized responses.
• Etta Taylor (Ward 7): Opposed the budget due to lack of police transparency and underfunding of Right to Counsel, which she said supports both tenants and good landlords.
• Sarah Watkins (Ward 7): Criticized Mayor Cara Spencer and Comptroller Darlene Green for not fully funding Right to Counsel, and accused SLMPD of violence against protesters. She urged full funding for housing and violence prevention programs.
• Carrie McCullin (Ward 2): Opposed giving police any funding above the legal minimum.
• Donnie Kahn (Ward 2): Advocated for fully funding Right to Counsel (+$1.5M), Office of Violence Prevention (+$4.1M), and Code Blue (+$1.5M), and for collecting unpaid taxes from developers like Green Street.
• Kennard Williams (Action St. Louis, Ward 9): Urged rejecting the police budget, noting that the department requested $5M for expected lawsuits—funds that could fully finance other safety programs.

Discussion Items

• Board Bill #9 (One-time Employee Payment and Fire Parity): Presented by Alderman Aldrich and Director of Personnel Brian Light. The bill provides a $1,000 one-time lump sum to all civil service employees from FY26 surplus funds and a 7% pay increase for probationary fire private, fire private, probationary fire equipment dispatcher, and fire equipment dispatcher classifications to maintain charter-required parity with the police department. All committee members expressed support and several added themselves as co-sponsors. No public testimony was offered. The committee voted unanimously (5–0) for a do-pass recommendation.
• Board Bill #1 (FY27 General Operating Budget): Budget Director Paul Payne presented the $1.41 billion proposed budget (0.5% increase over the prior year). The general fund is $637.1 million (4.9% increase). Highlights included $18 million for employee pay increases, $8.6 million increase for the police department, $2 million for the forestry division (weed/debris), $2 million for Code Blue, $4 million for building demolition, $1 million for Right to Counsel, $1 million for tiny homes, and $5 million for the PSAP. Revenue projections assume 1.7% growth, with modest increases in earnings, sales, and use taxes, but a decline in the marijuana sales tax (estimated $1.4M vs. original $1.7M). The police department budget (proposed at $159M, approximately 26% of the general fund) was discussed at length. Committee members expressed frustration that neither the Board of Police Commissioners nor police leadership attended to answer questions. Alderman Browning questioned the department's use of recruiting funds (historically budgeted at $100K but unspent) and the lack of transparency under state control. Aldermen Velazquez and Sonnier voiced concern about the constitutional and practical implications of the state takeover. Alderman Devotee noted that, given pending litigation against the city, it would be legally imprudent for police representatives to testify. Chair Aldrich noted that the police board was invited but chose not to appear. Director Payne confirmed that the budget complies with state law requiring a certain percentage of general revenue be allocated to police, though the exact interpretation of “general revenue” is unclear. He also noted that the police department’s capital request ($21.4M) far exceeded the recommended $3.1M, and that the department had attempted to zero out funding for park rangers and cut marshal salaries—actions that the proposed budget reverses.

Key Outcomes

• Board Bill #9 passed unanimously (5–0) and will be sent to the full Board of Aldermen.
• Board Bill #1 is held; the committee will conduct department-by-department hearings over the following weeks. Scheduled hearings include the Mayor’s Office, Public Safety, Fire, Parks, Building Division, and more.
• The committee noted the police department's refusal to present its budget and reaffirmed an open invitation for future appearances.
• Public testimony and committee comments will inform potential amendments to the FY27 budget before final approval.