ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – After a lengthy legal battle, voters in St. Louis County will have the chance to cast their vote on Proposition B Tuesday.

Citizens heading to the polls for the April General Municipal Election will see Proposition B, which reads:

“Shall Section 2.190.3 be added to and Sections 4.020 and 5.020 of the Charter of St.
Louis County be amended to restore checks and balances, oversight, and accountability
of the executive branch by authorizing removal of the St. Louis County Counselor or any
Department Director by five of the seven Councilmembers as set forth in Exhibit A of
Ordinance No. 29,241, on file with the St. Louis County Administrative Director and the
St. Louis County Board of Election Commissioners? The cost of legal counsel authorized if
this amendment passes has no fiscal impact on taxes.”

Essentially, the measure would grant the county council the authority to remove department heads with five of seven council members’ votes, or a “supermajority.”

The proposition faced a great amount of scrutiny by St. Louis County department heads—to the point of it reaching the Missouri Supreme Court. A lawsuit against the county council claimed that the ballot language was misleading to voters and failed to explain how the proposition would “radically amend” St. Louis County law.

In February, the Missouri Supreme Court sided with the county council, allowing Proposition B to stay on the ballot.

A ‘yes’ vote on Proposition B would approve the St. Louis County Council’s ability to remove department heads with a “supermajority” vote, or with five out of seven members’ votes.

A ‘no’ vote on Proposition B would reject the St. Louis County Council from being able to remove department heads with a “supermajority” vote, or with five out of seven members’ votes.

Most recently, County Executive Sam Page has been accused of improperly using public funds for fliers opposing Prop B.

To see St. Louis County’s sample ballots, click here.