St. Louis approves $255 million spending plan

More than a year after a powerful tornado devastated North St. Louis, city leaders on Thursday committed $120 million in Rams settlement proceeds to rebuilding and long-term recovery, ending years of debate over how to spend one of the largest financial windfalls in city history.

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen voted 12-3 to approve a $255 million spending plan directing the city’s remaining Rams settlement proceeds to tornado recovery, North St. Louis redevelopment, infrastructure improvements, downtown revitalization and efforts to reduce vacant properties.

Board of Aldermen President Megan Green and Mayor Cara Spencer backed the legislation. Aldermen Bret Narayan, Matt Devoti and Sharon Tyus voted against it.

The final plan falls short of what many North St. Louis residents and advocates sought, but aldermen increased funding for tornado recovery and neighborhood investment after weeks of public testimony.

The vote ends years of debate over how to spend the city’s share of the Rams relocation settlement. It also reflects how last year’s tornado reshaped the city’s priorities, shifting the focus from competing ideas for the one-time windfall to the urgent need to rebuild neighborhoods devastated by the storm.

The package dedicates $120 million to North St. Louis recovery and neighborhood plans; $70 million for city infrastructure, including $40 million for the aging water system; $55 million for downtown redevelopment; and $10 million to reduce vacant properties.

The spending plan creates dedicated funds for those priorities but does not authorize individual projects. Many will still require contracts, budget approvals or additional action before construction begins or money reaches residents, businesses and organizations.

Green called the vote an important milestone for the city.

“Allocating these funds is a significant step toward addressing the unprecedented challenges facing our city,” she said.

Spencer acknowledged the legislation reflects compromise rather than consensus.

“While this bill is not considered perfect by any stakeholder or anybody on the planet, it is something that I think the majority of us feel really good about,” she said.

Residents pushed for more

The final vote followed weeks of emotional committee hearings where residents, neighborhood leaders and business advocates offered sharply different visions for how the one-time windfall should be spent.

For many North St. Louis residents, the central question was whether City Hall would prioritize neighborhoods still recovering from the tornado or continue investing heavily in downtown, whose supporters argued it generates tax revenue that benefits the entire city.

“I’m really hoping to see an amendment that would increase funding for North city, specifically home repair and tornado recovery,” Audrey Kidwell told aldermen during committee hearings. She urged the board to remember testimony from residents who repeatedly identified home repair and emergency stabilization as their greatest needs.

Action St. Louis and other community groups urged aldermen to dedicate at least $150 million to tornado recovery and North St. Louis, arguing the approved amount still falls short of the community’s needs. City estimates indicated that initial repairs to damaged homes alone could exceed $120 million.

Action St. Louis member Ohun Ashe challenged aldermen to consider how residents would remember their decision.

“What will your family members say?” Ashe asked during committee debate. “That downtown interests meant more than people?”

Business leaders urged aldermen to preserve significant investment in downtown, arguing that the city’s economic center generates tax revenue that supports neighborhoods and city services throughout St. Louis.

The final legislation reflects both priorities, but not everyone left satisfied.

Residents helped reshape the plan

Before the tornado, elected officials and residents floated a wide range of ideas for the settlement proceeds, including child care, scholarships, public safety, neighborhood redevelopment and economic development.

Then the May 16 tornado changed the debate.

Green said Thursday that the city’s Tornado Recovery Office has exhausted its available funding, making approval of the legislation especially urgent.

The original proposal would have placed $25 million into reserves, but aldermen redirected that money after residents urged the city to prioritize neighborhoods still recovering from the tornado.

For many North St. Louis families, the debate was never abstract. Thousands of homes were damaged, many residents lacked insurance and rebuilding has moved more slowly than many hoped.

The vote settled where the money will go. The next challenge will be turning those dollars into repaired homes, stronger infrastructure and neighborhoods that are still waiting to recover.

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