County Council Adjusts Budget to Fund Parks

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

County Executive Charlie Dooley had made an announcement at the that a compromise was reached which saved 23 parks from closing.

The General fund started out at $232,091,091 in County Executive Charlie 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 saw adjustments.

The council voted to pull $22,754,346 from unappropriated Park Maintenance funds, to go toward the Parks and Recreation Department.

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

Highways and Traffic gained $22,108,108 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 potential passage, at the council’s next meeting, December 20.