NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 13, 2022
MEDIA CONTACT: Dana Kazel, Communications Manager
218-725-5049 (office) • 218-591-2219 (cell)
St. Louis County Board approves $453 million budget for 2023
The St. Louis County Board has unanimously approved its 2023 budget at $452,751,620. Notable points included with this budget: it funds employee salary and benefit commitments; sustains investments in mental health and substance use disorder services; and invests in enhanced medical services in the jail; in economic development; and in technology, including security. Perhaps most important, it ensures compliance with statutory requirements and the county's commitment to customer service and program effectiveness, all while taking inflationary pressures into account.
The Board Letter accompanying the budget resolution stated in part: "Each year, the County strives to establish a budget that leverages its resources, complies with state and federal mandates, and meets the needs of the public. The County’s goal is to be an efficient, effective, responsive government for the residents of St. Louis County.
"With the economy recovering (albeit still unevenly) as the pandemic persists, new issues have emerged that needed to be addressed. These include a shrinking labor market and more difficulty in keeping budgeted staff positions filled, rapidly escalating costs and supply disruptions for materials that affect capital construction projects, and increasing focus on recognizing and serving mental health needs within the community."
Approximately a third of the budget is funded by the property tax levy. The final levy was approved at $163.4 million, which is a 4.39% increase from this year.
Also happening during today's Board meeting, commissioners:
- Honored and thanked Nathan Bentley for his assistance in acquiring Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the early months of the pandemic. St. Louis County Safety and Risk Management Director Joe Austin wrote, "Put simply, Nathan came in clutch. He was able to source us thousands of masks, KN95s, gowns and hundreds of gallons of hand sanitizer when others could not. Nathan's support helped us provide our employees and area first responders with the PPE and supplies they needed to do their jobs as safely as possible during the first months of the pandemic response and throughout."
- Congratulated the Moutain Iron - Buhl Rangers on winning the state high school 9-man football championship.
- Heard the final recommendations from the Center for Economic Inclusion (CEI), which has been working for the past 16-months on increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in St. Louis County. CEI's final report highlights 23 recommendations including hiring a Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, and numerous ideas to improve hiring, retention and advancement of staff who are racially diverse.
- Recognized Commissioner Frank Jewell for his 12 years of service on the Board. Jewell is retiring at the end of this year.
Today's meeting was the final Board meeting of the year. The County Board will next meet on January 3, 2023.
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 St. Louis County commissioners and staff are shown with Nathan Bentley and his daughters after presenting him with a certificate of appreciation for his help acquiring PPE during the early months of the pandemic. The masks and other PPE were used by staff and distributed to area first responders and others in the community.
 Commissioners Keith Nelson and Mike Jugovich took a moment during the Board meeting to congratulate the Mountain Iron - Buhl Rangers for winning the state footbal championship.
 Representatives of the Center for Economic Inclusion are shown with St. Louis County commissioners and staff after presenting their final recommendations following 16 months of working with the county.
 Commissioner Frank Jewell (left) is presented with a service recognition award by County Board Chair Paul McDonald. Jewell is retiring this year after 12 years as a St. Louis County commissioner, and this was his final meeting.
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