In a turn of events, the failed legislation to increase the St. Louis County Executive’s salary from $140,000 to $195,000 was reconsidered and has now been passed. The salary increase for the position will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2027.

Introduced by District 6 Councilman Mike Archer, (R-Oakville), the bill originally died at the council’s Feb. 3 meeting after failing to receive enough votes to move onto perfection. At that meeting, Archer, District 1 Councilwoman Rita Heard Days and District 4 Councilwoman Shalonda Webb voted in favor of the bill, while District 2 Councilwoman Gretchen Bangert, District 5 Councilwoman Lisa Clancy and District 7 Councilman Mark Harder voted opposed. District 3 Councilman Dennis Hancock abstained from voting as he has already announced his candidacy for the county executive seat. 

This should have been the end of the bill, though at the council’s meeting the following week, Bangert filed a motion to reconsider her vote on the matter.

“After further looking into salaries for neighboring counties and even the city of St. Louis for the executive and mayor, I do at this time feel that the proposed increase in salary is indeed appropriate at this time,” Bangert said. She went on to reference the fact that county executives are not permitted to hold additional jobs during their time in the role, as well as the amount of time the position requires. “This will not take effect until the new county executive comes on board. If we do not pass this at this time, it will be 2031 before we can make a change in that salary.”

Despite opposing votes from Clancy and Harder, Bangert’s motion was sustained, and the bill was perfected. 

On Feb. 17, the bill was moved for final passage without further discussion. It was passed by a vote of 6-1, with Clancy voting opposed. Hancock, who abstained from voting on the bill previously, voted.