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St. Louis alderman proposes $100 flat filing fee to lower barrier for candidates
Summary
Alderman Browning introduced Board Bill 163 to replace a percentage-based filing fee with a $100 flat fee for city offices, arguing high fees deter first-time candidates. Committee discussion aired concerns about preserving a ‘skin in the game’ standard and party fundraising; no committee motion was made.
Alderman Browning introduced Board Bill 163 on Jan. 28, 2025, proposing that filing fees for city elected offices be changed from 1 percent of the office salary to a flat $100 fee for all city offices.
The bill’s sponsor said the change is intended to reduce a financial barrier to seeking office. “When I went to go pay my filing fee to run for reelection, I noticed that the filing fee had doubled ... we believe that money should not be a factor, when it comes to starting to run for office,” Alderman Browning said. He noted national statistics on household liquidity, saying “37% of Americans cannot cover a $400 expense,” and argued a high filing fee can deter potential candidates.
Committee members debated competing priorities. Alderman Cohn noted candidate committees can pay filing fees and that those fees previously supported local party infrastructure, saying that historical context should inform the bill’s evaluation. Alderman Narayan said he opposed barriers to entry but expressed concern that a very low fee could encourage unserious candidacies; he suggested alternatives such as a scaled fee tied to income. Alderman Aldridge said the current discrepancy — that some local filing fees are higher than statewide offices — is worthy of review and supported exploring a uniform approach.
Browning replied that many first-time filers have not yet raised campaign funds and that the city’s elections are now nonpartisan, so filing fees go to the general fund rather than to party organizations. He reiterated that he supports signature requirements as the primary test of seriousness for candidates and urged the committee to consider competition as a civic good.
Chair Volmer asked whether the sponsor wanted a committee vote. After discussion the committee did not move the bill: “1 motion going once, 1 motion going twice. We have no motion,” the chair said. The committee left the bill without a recommendation.
The record shows substantive discussion but no formal action; the bill remains in committee for further work.
