By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- St. Louis city officials voted Thursday to cut $1 million from the police department’s legal fund and reallocate money from the fire department’s vehicle budget to cover an estimated $1.4 million cost of firefighter salary increases triggered by a city charter pay-equity requirement.
- The cuts became necessary after the state-run Board of Police Commissioners approved command staff raises of 16 to 22 percent, which automatically mandated equal pay increases for firefighters of corresponding rank.
- Mayor Cara Spencer said the city had limited funding options with the fiscal year beginning July 1 and the budget largely finalized, necessitating immediate action to find the money.
- The police department said it was not consulted on the budget reallocation, characterizing the move as part of a broader pattern of tension between City Hall and the police board restored to authority last year.
- Aldermanic President Megan Green warned that year-over-year command staff raises of this magnitude are unsustainable and will continue to impact other city departments and worker compensation.
ST. LOUIS, MO. — City officials cut $1 million from the police department’s budget Thursday to cover firefighter salary increases mandated by a charter provision requiring equal pay for officers of equivalent rank.
The Police Commission voted Wednesday to approve raises of 16 percent for lieutenants, 18 percent for captains, 20 percent for majors, and 22 percent for lieutenant colonels, effective July 1. Police Chief Robert Tracy said the raises were necessary to retain command staff and address high attrition rates affecting the department’s ability to recruit and maintain its workforce.
The raises triggered a city charter requirement that firefighters of similar rank receive matching compensation increases. The estimated cost of firefighter pay adjustments totaled $1.4 million annually, according to city budget officials.
At Thursday’s Estimate Board meeting, Mayor Cara Spencer, Comptroller Donna Baringer, and Aldermanic President Megan Green voted to reduce the police legal fund by $1 million and the fire department’s vehicle budget by $440,000 to cover the difference. Spencer said the city had no alternative given the July 1 fiscal year start and the largely finalized municipal budget.
City Budget Director Paul Bayne noted that the police board had recently transferred $5 million from its current operating budget into a reserve for future liability payouts, indicating the department could absorb the $1 million reduction. Bayne said the fire department cut was not tied to any planned vehicle purchase.
The police department responded Thursday with a statement saying it was not consulted on the budget reallocation. The department said it remained committed to collaborative problem-solving with city stakeholders on public safety issues.
The dispute represents the latest escalation in monthslong tensions between City Hall and the Police Commission since the board’s restoration to authority by state lawmakers last year. The disagreement began in January when the Police Commission approved raises for rank-and-file officers and sergeants, prompting both sides to file lawsuits over annual funding requirements in April and May.
Police Chief Tracy said the department could absorb the command staff raise costs within its existing budget allocation. Spencer countered that the decision was irresponsible and placed other city services at financial risk.
Aldermanic President Green cautioned that recurring command staff pay increases of this magnitude were not sustainable. She stated that continued annual raises will further impact other city departments and employee compensation across the municipal workforce.