Board of Public Service details FY26 requests, warns of gaps on major projects and GOB spending

The Board of Public Service told the St. Louis City Budget & Public Employees Committee on May 14 that its FY26 request leaves several capital projects at risk without additional funding or external grant matches.

Rich Bradley, President of the Board of Public Service, told the committee: "The 2023 GOB money that had been allocated to date was $21,000,000 ... We have expended so far about $5,100,000. Just about every project that is in that GOB $21,000,000 has been either started in design, is ready for construction, but they are in process right now." The board highlighted that approximately $24 million of a $50 million GOB remained unallocated and that the Capital Committee must prioritize projects from a $500+ million capital needs inventory.

The board said the Lindell/Union Boulevard bridge over Forest Park and the Metrolink remains in design and that federal surface transportation grants are still “alive” but not guaranteed. Bradley described a contingent plan if federal matches fall through: "If for some odd reason those federal funds were removed, we would have to look at the GOB. We would have to look at capital. We would have to look at any other funding sources that the city might have to do that." Committee members pressed for contingency planning.

Bradley also updated the committee on the Southwest Avenue Bridge, a project the board said is "deep in design" and "almost ready for construction," but held up by one remaining temporary construction easement. Bradley said the easement is a short-term permission for work, not a permanent taking, and that negotiations with a property owner and their attorney remain unresolved. "With a little bit of luck," he said, "...hopefully we can knock this thing out in 30 days. It's about an 18 month project to build, so the sooner the better." Aldermen noted the project's safety implications and urged quick resolution.

Committee members asked about the city’s capital process and timing. Bradley explained that projects must be placed in the correct funding account to avoid delays, noted past comptroller processing times ranging from 30 days to six months, and described an effort to use citywide contractors to avoid individual board lettings and cut procurement time. He said some work requires licensed engineering design under "RSM 3 27 state law" and that on-call design contracts are used to avoid months of additional delay.

Why it matters: the board said the city faces competing high-priority capital needs and that reliance on federal matches and limited GOB allocations requires active prioritization. Committee members and the board agreed further follow-up will be needed to resolve funding gaps and move projects to construction.

Looking ahead, Bradley asked aldermen to work with the Capital Committee on prioritization and to assist with any outstanding easement negotiations to avoid safety-driven emergency closures.

Ending: The Budget & Public Employees Committee will continue the FY26 hearings; members flagged that capital funding choices will reappear in future sessions and that the board will return with more detailed answers about specific line items on request.