urbanSTL

How about hiring folks? Pay a competitive wage to start, and discipline folks who abuse the system, not employees who may legitimately need some sick time *and* a vacation.

This is a caused crisis. The city has run a significant budget surplus, they could 100% choose to spend more on employee salary. And if you have an adequate staff to start then you're paying fewer people "two and a half times overtime" when someone fakes being sick, which means you may be paying less in salary overall *and* not stressing out your good employees in the process.

-RBB

rbb wrote: ↑

Aug 29, 2025

How about hiring folks? Pay a competitive wage to start, and discipline folks who abuse the system, not employees who may legitimately need some sick time *and* a vacation.

This is a caused crisis. The city has run a significant budget surplus, they could 100% choose to spend more on employee salary. And if you have an adequate staff to start then you're paying fewer people "two and a half times overtime" when someone fakes being sick, which means you may be paying less in salary overall *and* not stressing out your good employees in the process.

-RBB

This issue isn’t at all unique to our cities government. I know it’s a huge problem in the tech industry, which pays really well and offers generous leave policies that are abused at really rates.

Debaliviere91 wrote: ↑

Aug 29, 2025

rbb wrote: ↑

Aug 29, 2025

How about hiring folks? Pay a competitive wage to start, and discipline folks who abuse the system, not employees who may legitimately need some sick time *and* a vacation.

This is a caused crisis. The city has run a significant budget surplus, they could 100% choose to spend more on employee salary. And if you have an adequate staff to start then you're paying fewer people "two and a half times overtime" when someone fakes being sick, which means you may be paying less in salary overall *and* not stressing out your good employees in the process.

-RBB

This issue isn’t at all unique to our cities government. I know it’s a huge problem in the tech industry, which pays really well and offers generous leave policies that are abused at really rates.

I don’t think the tech industry is a good analogy and the “pays well and offers generous time off” comes with the caveat tech is obsessed with pushing 1099 “employment” and that unlimited PTO has been proven to actually suppress the PTO utilization which is why tech adopted the policy in the first place

Debaliviere91 wrote: ↑

Aug 29, 2025

rbb wrote: ↑

Aug 29, 2025

How about hiring folks? Pay a competitive wage to start, and discipline folks who abuse the system, not employees who may legitimately need some sick time *and* a vacation.

This is a caused crisis. The city has run a significant budget surplus, they could 100% choose to spend more on employee salary. And if you have an adequate staff to start then you're paying fewer people "two and a half times overtime" when someone fakes being sick, which means you may be paying less in salary overall *and* not stressing out your good employees in the process.

-RBB

This issue isn’t at all unique to our cities government. I know it’s a huge problem in the tech industry, which pays really well and offers generous leave policies that are abused at really rates.

Yeah I know, and that wasn't a 'government BAD' or even an 'this administration BAD' rant. Just seems like poor management managing poorly and then reacting poorly to the poor results of their poor management. 

And the ones who ultimately suffer are the employees you're trying to retain - so they quit and you're left with an even smaller staff made up of the guys who don't care and are just in it for the 2½x overtime, and it all spirals out of control. That's bad when it happens in the private sector (and I've been an employee for private companies where exactly that's happened) and it's bad that it's happening here too.

-RBB

rbb wrote: ↑

Aug 29, 2025

Debaliviere91 wrote: ↑

Aug 29, 2025

rbb wrote: ↑

Aug 29, 2025

How about hiring folks? Pay a competitive wage to start, and discipline folks who abuse the system, not employees who may legitimately need some sick time *and* a vacation.

This is a caused crisis. The city has run a significant budget surplus, they could 100% choose to spend more on employee salary. And if you have an adequate staff to start then you're paying fewer people "two and a half times overtime" when someone fakes being sick, which means you may be paying less in salary overall *and* not stressing out your good employees in the process.

-RBB

This issue isn’t at all unique to our cities government. I know it’s a huge problem in the tech industry, which pays really well and offers generous leave policies that are abused at really rates.

Yeah I know, and that wasn't a 'government BAD' or even an 'this administration BAD' rant. Just seems like poor management managing poorly and then reacting poorly to the poor results of their poor management. 

And the ones who ultimately suffer are the employees you're trying to retain - so they quit and you're left with an even smaller staff made up of the guys who don't care and are just in it for the 2½x overtime, and it all spirals out of control. That's bad when it happens in the private sector (and I've been an employee for private companies where exactly that's happened) and it's bad that it's happening here too.

-RBB

Totally agree. It’s a difficult problem to solve. I just mean to point out that, based on what I’ve seen in the private sector, better pay and thus better employees doesn’t necessarily help this issue.

St. Louis City’s Budget Surpluses, FY 2021–2025

St. Louis City ended FY 2025 with an $18.7 million budget surplus. By ordinance, half will be directed into the City’s rainy day fund (general fund reserve) and the other half will support the Capital Improvements Plan.

Looking back at the last five fiscal years, the City has consistently ended in the black:

• 2025: $18.7M
• 2024: $42.4M
• 2023: $75.6M
• 2022: $49M
• 2021: $32M

That’s a five-year total of $217.7M in surpluses. City’s fiscal calendar is July 1 to June 30th

Its funny how the anti-City/County merger people always claim that the County would have to financially prop-up the City.  

I believe the county is like minus $120m in same time frame

https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/new ... -louis.htm

Spencer says the city is looking for new revenue streams to pay for $12-15 million in yearly street repair funding, the current budget for such repairs is $2-3 million.

Odd to me that parking meter revenue doesn't go to street maintenance.
Where are the red light and speed cameras? That revenue could go to streets.
Put a local gas tax on the ballot. Though my submission to Speak Up St. Louis isn't doing well, lol

Let's not forget when traveling Tish ran for Treasurer and won, her main platform was to turn over parking revenue to the general budget. However once she was elected did nothing to change it. Guess she was more interested in using it to fund her lavish lifestyle. 

Not sure what you’re responding to but I thought Mayor Jones was previously not supportive of touching parking revenue?

100% of parking revenue should go to the general fund, specifically DOT. Hourly rates should go up 25%. Tickets should go up 25%.

southcitykid wrote: ↑

Oct 18, 2025

Let's not forget when traveling Tish ran for Treasurer and won, her main platform was to turn over parking revenue to the general budget. However once she was elected did nothing to change it. Guess she was more interested in using it to fund her lavish lifestyle. 

Lavish lifestyle by paying for all her travel out of her own money? And I think is still the only elected official to post all travel and receipts online

When she first ran for Treasurer, one of her main platforms was to turn over to general revenue the extra money in the Treasurers account. That's why most of us voted for her even though her Dad was a crook. At the time there was a rather big amount of cash on hand.

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/gov ... -top-story

City workers to be getting $13 million in raises. A plurality will be going towards new worker's starting pay, which will raise $7,000, police and firefighters will be getting a 4% raise, and other city employees will be getting a 2% raise.

These raises will go towards closing the gap between St. Louis and the market, which is ~30% higher for starting workers and 8% higher for the longest tenured workers.

The city has approves $30 million in raises over the last 2 years.

Surely the state will pay for such generous benefits for its police officers, right?

StlToday - St. Louis police regain lifetime health insurance. City officials are alarmed.

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/gov ... 2911d.html

Jesus

It needs to go back to the voters in a state wide constitutional amendment asap. It will pass with ease.

I presume they don't see the hypocrisy of single-payer healthcare for SLMPD retirees while other retired officers and the rest of Missourians can pound sand.

quincunx wrote: ↑

5:04 PM - Jan 08

I presume they don't see the hypocrisy of single-payer healthcare for SLMPD retirees while other retired officers and the rest of Missourians can pound sand.

It was a benefit given to all city officers since the 1960's who completed the minimum 20 years of service and retired. It's still in effect for all city officers who have retired, as those who were hired under City Control, do not have the required time to retire. Even under city control, city officers who completed the minimum amount of service and retired with benefits, was given the benefit of healthcare. 

When you pay a salary 20,0000-40,000 dollars below competing departments, you have to have a benefit package to set you apart. The police pension and healthcare is why so many officers choose to not only work in the city, but stay in the city for the minimum of 20 years of service. If we constantly complain about how we want the highest qualified candidates, but give these men and women no benefits to working here, why would they come? 

Ok but like the retirement healthcare benefit is not something the city gives out to any other workers as far as i know (who are pension eligible) and healthcare in the present economy is just a crazy escalating cost + they'd be eligible for medicare anyway. Also doesn't stl have a higher number of officers per capita than most cities?

This just seems way out of proportion for the city to provide retired officers healthcare considering all the other things the city underfunds.

Note Speak wrote: ↑

10:27 PM - Jan 08

quincunx wrote: ↑

5:04 PM - Jan 08

I presume they don't see the hypocrisy of single-payer healthcare for SLMPD retirees while other retired officers and the rest of Missourians can pound sand.

It was a benefit given to all city officers since the 1960's who completed the minimum 20 years of service and retired. It's still in effect for all city officers who have retired, as those who were hired under City Control, do not have the required time to retire. Even under city control, city officers who completed the minimum amount of service and retired with benefits, was given the benefit of healthcare. 

When you pay a salary 20,0000-40,000 dollars below competing departments, you have to have a benefit package to set you apart. The police pension and healthcare is why so many officers choose to not only work in the city, but stay in the city for the minimum of 20 years of service. If we constantly complain about how we want the highest qualified candidates, but give these men and women no benefits to working here, why would they come? 

Let's say you're entirely right. It still doesn't justify the state mandating how city taxpayers compensate retired officers.

Pay and benefit disparity is a reason to merge the many police departments.

quincunx wrote:Surely the state will pay for such generous benefits for its police officers, right?

StlToday - St. Louis police regain lifetime health insurance. City officials are alarmed.

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/gov ... 2911d.html

The moderate position should be the city not sending money to the police department it doesn't have authority over. They should also be paying rent for operating in city owned buildings or paying property tax.

This sh*t is insane but no one treats it like it's insane.

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