By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay wants to build two new recreation centers in the city and add 50 new officers to the police department. Slay outlined the proposal in is annual State of the City address Friday.
He said the rec centers would cost about $15 million apiece.
Another $6 million would be needed to hire the extra police officers and start a repeat offender unit in the prosecutor's office.
The mayor said he wants the issues put to city voters in November.
"When we have gone to the voters with a single voice before, we have been successful," Slay said. "If there ever were a cause and a moment that needed all of us to stand together, it is this cause right now."
Later, Slay acknowledged if the measures go to voters and pass, St. Louis city would have the highest sales tax rate in the region, but he said it would not be significant enough to deter shoppers.