# Budget & Public Employees Committee - October 8, 2026

The City of St. Louis Budget & Public Employees Committee met October 8, 2026, to review Board Bill 59, which would place a measure on the April 6, 2027 ballot to broaden the permitted use of an existing half-cent sales-tax allocation for transit. The proposal would allow funds currently dedicated to the North-South MetroLink project to support that project, a bus rapid transit (BRT) line, or other mass-transit initiatives. Presenters described the proposed 11.5-mile Green Line BRT project and cited an estimated cost range of $360 million to $590 million, compared with about $1.1 billion for the light-rail alternative. They said the existing tax revenue could serve as local match for federal Capital Investment Grant funding; the BRT project is in federal project development, but no grant award or contract was approved at this meeting.

Committee members and public commenters debated whether “other mass transit initiatives” was too broad and whether future changes should require another voter approval. Testimony also raised community-engagement concerns and proposed options including electric buses and express service. After discussion, the bill’s sponsor said more work and community conversations were needed and held Board Bill 59 in committee; there was no vote on the bill or procurement action. The committee separately approved the September 30 minutes and adjourned.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Transportation
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 08, 2026

### Sources
- [Budget & Public Employees Committee - October 8, 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmXqqdQMzSo) - City of St. Louis, Missouri