St. Charles County Council Meeting 11.9.26

The St. Charles County Council held a 2027 budget work session and regular council meeting on November 9, 2026. The finance director presented an administration-recommended budget that maintains a 10% General Fund reserve, includes a 2% merit increase and 1% cost-of-living adjustment, and funds only 2 of 44 requested additional positions. The proposal assumes modest sales-tax growth and reflects departments’ efforts to bring operating costs closer to 2025 levels; the council did not approve the budget at this meeting. Members identified further budget discussions on employee pay, highway funding, homelessness services, and other spending priorities. The proposed $6 million pet adoption center and possible homeless-services funding were discussed, but no spending decision was made.

The council approved the jail’s Phase 3 work, discussed as an approximately $15.8 million competitively bid package, and separately approved the ADA transition plan/right-of-way evaluation with Cole & Associates after Councilman Baker recused himself. It also passed the 2027 group insurance rates ordinance and a $620,000 Police Department budget adjustment tied to a U.S. Department of Justice grant. A separate $12,761 Justice Department grant for investigative equipment was introduced, as was an agreement for tax-payment drop boxes at library branches. Bill 5544, establishing requirements for automated license-plate-reader data, was introduced and debated, including calls for a warrant requirement; no final vote was taken. The council also introduced a rezoning bill affecting a mobile-home community, with members requesting more information and continued work with residents before the scheduled vote.