ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Calling some of the failures “inexcusable,” St. Louis County Council member Steve Stenger got into a heated exchange with a fellow council member over the supposed mismanagement of the county Children’s Services Fund.
The fund has more than $70 million in the bank, but hasn’t been spending the money fast enough according to Stenger, who says that while he knows the current staff is working hard, the fund has been plagued by mismanagement. Stenger had harsh words for the fund’s interim executive director, Juie Leicht.
“You stand up here and you talk about increasing accountability and transparency and yet we didn’t get the report card to the community,” Stenger said. “You’re standing here making excuses as to why that is, but I don’t think that’s excusable. I think it’s one of the factors that is indicative of why we have this extra $70 million in the first place.”
Leicht argued that the fund’s failure to disperse funds quickly was a sign of diligent management, not poor leadership. She says that fund’s rigorous process of approving funds and the small staff make disbursing funds quickly nearly impossible.
Some council members, like Hazel Erby, say that Stenger’s harsh critisizm of the program is politically motivated. Stenger is challenging longtime county executive, Charley Dooley, in the upcoming Democratic primary. Dooley has worked closely with the fund and Erby suggested that Stenger’s objections are borne “more about an election year,” than sincere concern.
“You shouldn’t be excusing yourself, where was this council over the last 4 years as these funds have built up?” Erby said. “You’re part of the problem, and suddenly you’re concerned because it’s an election year and I have an issue with that.”
Stenger fired back.
“Well, councilwoman, then you’re part of the problem too, and you’ve been on this council as well,” Stenger said. “And I’ve been on the record asking questions about this for years. So we can agree to disagree about motives.”
Collin Reischman was the Managing Editor for The Missouri Times, and a graduate of Webster University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
