ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - "There's no increase in the police budget."
That's St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson's response to a report that the city's budget for police is expected to go up more than 20% next fiscal year.
"Frankly because the sources of revenue that fund at least part of the police budget are expected to be down in '21, particularly sales tax," she told KMOX's Charlie Brennan and Amy Marxkors Monday, saying her office had been working all weekend to correct an error in a recent report.
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The Mayor says the police budget was $182 million last year and this year it's roughly $180 million, not counting pension contributions.
When it comes to "defunding" police, Krewson says that's not the answer for having a better police force. Until there are more robust social and mental health services, she says it's left up to the police to handle many issues.
Krewson says St. Louis Police have shown "a lot of restraint" during recent violence in the last couple of weeks.
She also says the police department is currently 120 officers short and their incoming police academy class is also light this year – only 30 people in the class that's set up for 55 trainees.
