St. Louis County Council passes bill on Metro funds

ST. LOUIS – County Council Members moved to pass substitute Bill No. 1 for Bill No. 204 at Tuesday evening’s meeting.

The bill states:
AN ORDINANCE: APPROPRIATING UP TO $71,147,837 OF THE FUNDS RECEIVED FROM THE STATE OF MISSOURI FROM THE PROP A HALF-CENT SALES TAX LEVIED PURSUANT TO ORDINANCE NO. 24,245 FOR THE PUBLIC MASS TRANSIT TRUST FUND FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, AND FOR COUNTY POLICE SERVICES FOR METRO, FROM THE AMOUNT RECEIVED BY ST. LOUIS COUNTY FROM JULY 1, 2018 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2019; APPROPRIATING FROM THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND 50% OF THE AMOUNT RECEIVED BY ST. LOUIS COUNTY FROM THE SALES TAX LEVIED BY ORDINANCE NO. 6,792 FROM JULY 1, 2018 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2019, NET OF THE TIF TRANSFERS OUT; APPROPRIATING IN THE PUBLIC MASS TRANSIT FUND 100% OF THE AMOUNT RECEIVED FROM JULY 1, 2018 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2019 FROM THE QUARTER- CENT PROP M SALES TAX LEVIED PURSUANT TO ORDINANCE NO. 17,153, NET OF TIF TRANSFERS OUT; AND PROVIDING FOR THE AMOUNTS AND METHOD OF DISBURSEMENTS TO BI-STATE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND USE OF FUNDS FOR SUPPORT OF POLICE SERVICES FOR BI-STATE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY.

At last week’s meeting, Council Members explained that the plan of the bill is to withhold $5 million – $2.5 from police and $2.5 from bi-state – until both parties can establish an action plan in ensuring the safety of residents.

Tuesday evening, Councilman Page addressed public forum speaker, Tom Sullivan on the questions about withholding funds from the Metro.

Sullivan said that there is no other area where the council has been more irresponsible than with Metro. He said that the most important issue is how the transit agency is provided with service with so many relying on the public transportation, but that has not be discussed.

“The funding for Metro,” said Page. “We’re not withholding the appropriation for security. We’re withholding it to consider how to appropriate for the second half of the year. The security funding will go forward, the question is how will it go forward.”

During the public forum, many members of the United African Peoples Organization (UAPO) stood before Council Members once again to ask for an independent civilian oversight board.

They asked the Council to bring forth a legislation that would address their concerns. One individual told members that there could be a study and conversation about a board in order to see what St. Louis County would benefit from.

Many individuals who spoke discussed the problem with evidence being falsified and the need for checks and balances in the system to ensure that there is trust and communication between the system and the people.

“Use your heart. Use your mind. Use your soul for the people of St. Louis County,” said Marble Davis.

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