By Bill Raack, KWMU
St. Louis – The proposed budget for St. Louis County next year will require 95 layoffs.
Most departments would see a five-percent cut in their budgets for fiscal year 2005 due mainly to stagnant revenue.
The jobs that will be cut fall primarily in the Health and Parks departments, but County Executive Charlie Dooley says they tried to be fair.
"It's not in any one particular department, it's across the department," Dooley said. "The only department that had no cuts was the police department. And they actually got a 4.5 percent increase in their budget. We just believe in the health and we believe in the safety of the St. Louis county residents."
Dooley says the cuts are necessary because he refuses to increase property taxes.
The Democrat is running against Republican Gene McNary in the county executive race.
The county council must approve the budget before December 31st.