County Council Adjusts Budget to Fund Parks

To save all St. Louis County parks and to keep snow plowing in unincorporated areas of St. Louis County, St. Louis County Council members voted Tuesday night to adjust four funds from the original proposed 2012 budget.

St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley made an announcement in the  that a compromise was reached, which saved 23 parks from closing.

The General Fund started out at $232,091,091 in Dooley’s original 2012 budget, which included closing the county parks. The amended amount passed last night was $232,441,091 — an additional $350,000.

Three department budgets received adjustments.

Council members voted to pull $22,754,346 from unappropriated Park Maintenance, to go toward Parks and Recreation.

The County Assessor fund lost $11,896,411, to the credit of “accounts as provided in the 2012 budget.”

Highways and Traffic gained $22,108,108, which came from the Special Road and Bridge fund.

The funds for all 18 departments in the 2012 budget were given a second reading, including the four that were amended.

The 2012 budget is scheduled for a final reading, for passage, at the council’s next meeting on Dec. 20.