~ In a recent press release, Mayor Cara Spencer of St. Louis issued a warning to residents about potential service cuts and layoffs if the budget certified by the state-controlled Board of Police Commissioners for the Police Department is finalized at its current amounts.

According to Mayor Spencer, the budget certified by the Board would increase the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department's budget to over $250 million. However, this figure does not include required retirement costs such as FICA and health insurance, which are estimated to cost an additional $21 million. Additionally, the full cost of Marshals and Park Rangers is not included in this budget, which would further increase total costs by $3 million. In total, this budget would bring the new total cost to the City to close to $274 million, representing a 35.8% increase.

While acknowledging that the Police Department needs more funding, Mayor Spencer also emphasized that other City departments play a crucial role in delivering services to residents and require adequate funding as well. She expressed concern that if the Board of Police Commissioners does not revise their certified budget, it could result in mass layoffs in other departments to compensate for the increased costs.

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The Mayor's Office and Budget Division were given only 17 hours before Wednesday's Board of Police Commissioners meeting to review the SLMPD budget, leaving them with very little time for analysis before the vote to certify it.

It is worth noting that the state-controlled Board of Police Commissioners does not answer directly to St. Louis citizens, leaving them with no say in this matter. Furthermore, this budget exceeds the amount of funding required by state statute by at least $48.3 million and could potentially reach up to $72 million when considering all City departments' budgets.

Mayor Spencer stressed that department budgets cannot be made in isolation and called for collaboration between all parties involved. She urged the Board to work with her office and consider how their decisions impact St. Louisans beyond just policing. She reminded them that without proper funding for other essential services such as trash collection, road maintenance, and city development, there would be nothing left to police.

In conclusion, Mayor Spencer's warning serves as a call to action for the Board of Police Commissioners to reconsider their certified budget and work together with the City to find a solution that supports both the Police Department and other crucial departments. The decisions made now will have a significant impact on the lives of St. Louis residents and the overall well-being of the city.

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