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Board of Estimate and Apportionment reallocates $1.4M to cover fire pay increases after police raises
Summary
On June 18 the Board of Estimate and Apportionment approved short-term budget moves to cover an estimated $1.4 million in fire-department salary costs triggered by recent police pay raises, drawing funds from the general fund, a GEMT special fund, fleet capital and police internal-service lines. The board also approved several contract and ordinance items and amended Board Bill 43 (ARPA reappropriation).
St. LouisBoard of Estimate and Apportionment members on June 18 approved a set of short-term budget reallocations intended to cover about $1.4 million in additional fire-department salary costs that the board said result from pay increases approved for police officers earlier in the week. The board also moved several administrative contract and ordinance items and amended Board Bill 43, a measure to reappropriate unspent ARPA funds for water infrastructure.
Budget Director Paul Payne told the board he and staff proposed three adjustments (labeled items 14A, 14B and 14C) to offset the projected $1.4 million gap. Payne said the adjustments combine a roughly $1 million general-fund increase for fire salaries and overtime; a change in the GEMT special fund charge that reimburses the city for EMS costs; a reduction in the fleet capital-asset line from $2.6 million to $2.2 million (freeing about $445,000); and a proposed $1 million reduction in the police departmentinternal-services/judgment line based on current underspending.
Payne summarized the plan as adding items 14A, 14B and 14C to the previously proposed budget changes, and said the measures would provide the near-term offset for the fire pay increases. "This is not a long-term solution," a board member said, noting the city will need an ongoing revenue source if similar raises recur.
Board members thanked Payne for rapidly assembling the offsets and stressed the limits of a one-year fix. One member noted that recurring, large raises for one department risk squeezing funding for other priorities the city has committed to this year, including right-to-counsel services, Code Blue emergency sheltering and small-scale housing initiatives such as tiny homes. The board also scheduled a special Board of Aldermen meeting for Monday to act on the broader city budget ahead of the July 1 deadline.
Votes at a glance: the board unanimously approved a package of routine ENA contract and lease approvals and transfers (items 1through 5), approved an amendment to and then adoption of Board Bill 43 to reappropriate ARPA funds for water infrastructure (item 6, amended), and adopted the budget amendment described above (item 7). Roll calls recorded "I" votes by the members present in each instance; the clerk announced each item approved.
The meeting opened with roll call and seven agenda items; the board concluded by recognizing Juneteenth. The meeting adjourned following the votes.
