Seventh District St. Louis County Councilman Mark Harder, R-Ballwin, introduced a proposal to change the county’s government structure to a county manager system, aiming to streamline operations and address ongoing budgetary challenges.

Harder, who is running for Missouri’s 15th Senate District, requested legislation May 13 to place a charter amendment on the November 2024 ballot, which, if passed, would transition the county to a council-manager form of government. This model, used by 183 counties nationwide and several cities in Missouri, appoints a nonpartisan, professional manager to oversee day-to-day operations, while elected officials focus on policy-making and long-term vision.

Harder said the current government structure creates conflicts between the executive and legislative branches, resulting in operational stalemates. He added that the county is projected to run out of funds within the next two years, making new management necessary.

“I want to get this discussion started again because what we have been doing isn’t working,” he said in a press release.

The proposed county manager would be appointed by and serve at the discretion of the County Council or executive, similar to the city administrator roles in many municipalities. The professional manager would be an individual trained specifically in government operations, tasked with making the day-to-day operational decisions while the elected officials would focus on policymaking.

In 2019, a similar proposal was considered by the county Charter Commission but failed to advance. The current proposal will be reviewed by the County Council in open meetings, allowing for public input before deciding whether to put the charter change to a vote. The measure requires at least four votes to be placed on the November ballot.

Previous supporters of the county manager model included Sunset Hills Mayor Pat Fribis and then-Crestwood Mayor Grant Mabie, who spoke in favor of the change at commission meetings, arguing that it would bring professional oversight and continuity to county operations. Proponents believe that a professional manager could help prevent issues like those seen under the administration of former County Executive Steve Stenger, who resigned amid federal corruption charges.

Opponents in 2019 cautioned against concentrating too much power in an appointed official, with some critics suggesting that the push for a county manager model might be a reaction to past issues rather than a proactive improvement. 

Despite these concerns, some officials believe the county manager model could bring long-term benefits. Former Clayton Mayor Ben Uchitelle said at the time that large counties with professional managers are “prospering,” and that it is time for the county to consider whether it could be run more efficiently with a professional manager.