Collector reports $916.4M in FY collections; announces ARPA‑funded water assistance and Spanish phone payment option

Greg Dailey, the City of St. Louis collector of revenue, told the Budget and Public Employees Committee on May 19 that total collections for the fiscal year ending March 2025 were about $916.4 million and that his office is launching assistance programs funded with ARPA dollars.

Dailey said the total included roughly $519.8 million in real estate and personal property taxes, $306.8 million in earnings and payroll expense (the largest revenue source for general revenue), about $69.9 million in water fees and about $16.4 million in refuse collections. Those collections are distributed to multiple agencies and funds, and Dailey said the collector’s office receives commissions on collections (about 1.5%–4%) to fund operations; excess commissions this year are projected at about $22.1 million.

Dailey described the Real Estate Tax Assistance Fund (RETAF), a partnership the collector’s office runs with ParkCentral Development, Prosperity Connection and Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, and said the program has already saved 52 owner‑occupied homes from tax sale and impacted 272 individuals across 46 neighborhoods. The collector said his office is collaborating with the Water Division and the administration to stand up a comparable ARPA‑funded water assistance program later this summer; he said the pool available for water assistance is $840,000 and that United Way will serve as vendor for that distribution.

The collector also told the committee his office will add a Spanish interactive voice response (IVR) payment option through the PayIt St. Louis vendor to make payments easier for Spanish‑speaking residents; Dailey said the IVR option is expected in September. He described the office’s work supplying personnel and mailing support to other departments at no cost and noted that the Collector’s Office employs about 91 full‑time and part‑time staff.

Why it matters: The collector’s revenue totals are a principal input to the city’s operating budget. The announced ARPA water assistance program and a Spanish IVR payment channel are administrative steps intended to make tax and utility payment options more accessible and to provide short‑term relief to residents facing arrears.

Dailey emphasized customer service, said the office’s fiscal year begins the first Monday in March (per state statute) and said collections are routed to schools, the zoo, sheltered workshops and other designated agencies as required by law. He also noted excess commission distributions the office returns in June after operating expenses; Dailey said excess distributions since 2007 total about $195 million.

Committee members asked about collaboration opportunities with other departments and the collector encouraged early engagement when aldermen consider legislation that could affect tax or fee administration. Dailey also said the office has paused an open house scheduled for the day of the meeting and will reschedule in response to recent storm recovery needs.

Ending: The collector said the water assistance program details are still being finalized and will be launched later this summer; the collector’s office will implement the Spanish IVR payment channel in September and will continue coordinating with other city departments on outreach and assistance.