Police board sues St. Louis over $68M funding dispute

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]In just a few hours, the first hearing in a lawsuit between the police board of commissioners and the city will get underway. So, right now we know that the St. Louis Police Board of Commissioners is suing the city demanding tens of millions of dollars in police funding.

[00:00:12]Now, this is one of several lawsuits between the city and police board. Our Reagan Tutela joins us now with everything we know so far about this legal fight. Reagan, good morning. What can you tell us? Hey, good morning, Michelle and Mercedes. Well, this is nearly a $70 million lawsuit. This is what you need to know. The police board claims city leaders improperly left out RAM settlement money from the police budget, but Mayor Cara Spencer says these funding demands from the police board could force late maintenance, trash collection, and other vital city resources and services. This filing comes amid an ongoing fight for takeover of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and a state law requiring the city to devote at least 25% of its general revenue to policing.

[00:01:00]Mayor Cara Spencer is pushing against this legal battle with the police board.

[00:01:05]The police board has made the argument that that these dollars are theirs in large part. I have vehemently disagreed with that. This does not constitute current revenue by any stretch of the imagination. But look, these dollars, getting them out the door, getting them out quickly has been important regardless of that conversation.

[00:01:25]And the board says commissioners voted during executive session seeking immediate judicial guidance regarding how general revenue must be calculated under Missouri law. Now, that includes whether RAM settlement money must be counted towards police funding requirements. Coming up in the 6:00 hour, we're going to break down a scheduled hearing happening later today.