The St. Louis County Council has approved its 2026 budget, cutting $48 million from County Executive Sam Page’s original proposal—without reducing services or eliminating jobs. The vote wasn’t unanimous, however, as the budget passed 6-1. In this episode, Ben breaks down how the budget came together, what was cut, and why one council member voted no.

Plus, County Executive Sam Page announced he will not seek reelection in 2026, and the Webster Groves City Council delayed its decision on whether to place a proposed sales tax increase—potentially raising the rate to nearly 10%—on April’s ballot until January.

LOCAL INVOLVEMENT IS VITAL!

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“Just the Facts!”

Topic Sources:

https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/politics/st-louis-county-council-passes-2026-budget-backlash-from-county-executive-remains/63-a9c6219d-6ee7-4bab-ad87-1bc365c9981b

https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2025-12-16/page-warns-of-unintended-consequences-as-st-louis-county-adopts-2026-budget-with-48m-in-cuts

https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/politics/st-louis-county-council-proposes-budget-cuts-chipping-away-at-81-million-dollar-deficit/63-11577ff5-7148-4c99-8a78-e0f5b754b47f

https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-government/county-council/

https://stlouisco.civicweb.net/Portal/VotingRecords.aspx?memberId=31&meetingTypeId=10&attendance=1

https://stlouisco.civicweb.net/Portal/VotingRecords.aspx?memberId=31&meetingTypeId=10&voting=1

On this episode, Ben talks about St. Louis County’s budget issue that is heating up and the work the council is doing to pull the county back from the bankruptcy cliff, fiscal topics coming up in the City of St. Louis and its failed Green Line project, and more tax increases being proposed in Webster Groves to cover the city’s massive budget deficit.

LOCAL INVOLVEMENT IS VITAL!

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“Just the Facts!”

Topic Sources:

https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/politics/st-louis-county-new-logo-launch-opportunity-central-marketing-campaign/63-6feb82e5-b278-4e6a-8783-71ce4cde36ae

https://www.stlpr.org/news-briefs/2025-12-12/st-louis-aldermen-pass-earnings-tax-vote-election-bills

https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/budget/documents/upload/Earnings-Tax-Presentation-to-Budget-Committee-11-19-25.pdf

https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/webster-groves-eyes-two-new-sales-tax-increases/

https://webstergrovesmo.gov/DocumentCenter/View/13565/FY26-ADOPTED-BUDGET?bidId=

https://www.stlpr.org/economy-business/2025-09-24/st-louis-cancels-north-south-metrolink-expansion-project

https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/96m-transit-tax-sparks-showdown-at-st-louis-city-hall/63-a2ec467e-f768-4bae-9627-44c8183a7657

St. Louis County’s budget deficit has ballooned to $80 million, and county executive Sam Page is pitching a mix of tax increases and NFL settlement dollars to plug the hole. But the numbers don’t add up—especially when you account for his massive 2026 budget, which more than doubles the current deficit. The proposed tax hikes fall short of covering the long-term shortfall, and the settlement funds are a one-time fix that can’t sustain the county’s financial needs. This episode breaks down the math, the politics, and what it all means for the county’s future.

LOCAL INVOLVEMENT IS VITAL!

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Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube: The Ben Broghammer Show on all platforms

“Just the Facts!”

Topic Sources:

https://www.stlpr.org/show/st-louis-on-the-air/2025-11-17/st-louis-county-council-chairwoman-days-sees-dire-budgetary-trajectory

https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/revenue/collector-of-revenue/collector-of-revenue-faqs/delinquent-property-tax-information/

https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/st-louis-county-executive-proposes-59m-from-rams-settlement-for-budget-shortfall/

https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/administration/fiscal-transparency/budgets/2025-recommended-budget1/

From New York to Virginia, and up to Chicago - Democrat-run cities, and democrats winning on the ballot are making headlines for the following reasons: socialist policies, extreme rhetoric, high tax proposals leaving business leaders and residents wondering what their future will look like. But what happens when those same trends start showing up closer to home?

On this episode, Ben breaks down what is going on around the country, and draws a straight line back to St. Louis, where democrats here control St. Louis city, and St. Louis County, and we an extreme progressive running for Congress in MO-01. Could what we are seeing unfolding around the country happen here? These are the facts, take them and form your own opinion.

LOCAL INVOLVEMENT IS VITAL!

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Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube: The Ben Broghammer Show on all platforms

“Just the Facts!”

Topic Sources:

https://peoplenotpoliticiansmo.org/#about

https://governor.mo.gov/press-releases/archive/governor-kehoe-signs-missouri-first-map-law

https://governor.mo.gov/press-releases/archive/governor-kehoe-signs-missouri-first-map-law

https://www.kmbc.com/article/missouri-redistricting-dark-money-lawsuit-congressional-map-petition/69064623

https://taxfoundation.org/blog/chicago-head-tax-social-media-tax-cloud-tax/

https://www.wbez.org/springfield/2025/11/03/mass-transit-funding-legislation-chicago-illinois-general-assembly-fiscal-cliff-cta-metra-pace

This week, we dive into updates from Sam Page’s ongoing legal case and his lawyers’ call to dismiss the case, and what Cori Bush wasn’t doing while representing her district in Congress. The records, the court filings, the voting history all speak for themselves.

LOCAL INVOLVEMENT IS VITAL!

Follow the show on Instagram @benbroghammershow

Following the show on X @benbroghammer

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube: The Ben Broghammer Show on all platforms

Get in touch: https://www.broghammerstrategies.com/contact

The Ben Broghammer Show is powered by Broghammer Strategies Group. “Our business is helping yours reach its full potential.”

“Just the Facts!”

Topic Sources:

• https://www.firstalert4.com/2024/07/03/first-alert-4-fact-check-wesley-bells-ad-cori-bushs-voting-record/

• https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/city-sued-cori-bush-unpaid-taxes-dismissed-months-missed-notices/63-aa8e4d91-828f-4cb1-8a1b-f731d1d091ea
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrGjCtwx-yE
• https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/news/2025/10/22/page-lawyers-want-case-dismissed
• https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/appeals-court-sides-with-parson-over-page-to-appoint-stl-county-prosecuting-attorney/amp/
• https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/city-sued-cori-bush-unpaid-taxes-dismissed-months-missed-notices/63-aa8e4d91-828f-4cb1-8a1b-f731d1d091ea
• https://x.com/CoriBush

The federal government shutdown is having a massive impact on Missouri, Cori Bush’s record doesn’t add up, and the St. Louis Sheriff is sitting in jail. On this episode, Ben shares the numbers of the shutdown impact, goes deeper into former Congresswoman and now candidate Cori Bush’s platform and positions, and gives a play by play of the allegations that kept St. Louis Sheriff Alfred Montgomery from walking out of court this past week.

LOCAL INVOLVEMENT IS VITAL!

Follow the show on Instagram @benbroghammershow

Following the show on X @benbroghammer

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube: The Ben Broghammer Show on all platforms

Get in touch: https://www.broghammerstrategies.com/contact

The Ben Broghammer Show is powered by Broghammer Strategies Group. “Our business is helping yours reach its full potential.”

“Just the Facts!”

Topic Sources:

• https://slmpd.org/stats/

• https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/politics/survey-22-say-no-one-shows-up-to-city-911-calls-st-louis-mayor-tishaura-jones-defends-record-on-homelessness-and-public-safety/63-3d51fab8-95a9-4afb-8835-b99583096b3c
• https://www.foxnews.com/politics/squad-dem-launches-comeback-bid-after-anti-israel-views-torpedoed-campaign-we-need-fighter
• https://www.foxnews.com/politics/unearthed-records-torpedo-cori-bushs-new-claim-billions-funding-she-delivered-district
• https://www.foxnews.com/politics/unearthed-records-torpedo-cori-bushs-new-claim-billions-funding-she-delivered-district
• https://waysandmeans.house.gov/2021/04/19/reminder-dems-green-new-deal-tax-hikes-will-cost-american-families-up-to-65000-per-year/
• https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmo/pr/st-louis-sheriff-indicted-civil-rights-charge
• https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/st-louis-sheriff-alfred-montgomery-now-in-custody-over-federal-charges/
• https://www.whitehouse.gov/government-shutdown-clock/
• https://x.com/CoriBush/status/1979347737003917530

On Tuesday October 7th, 2025, the Webster Groves City Council adopted the Webster Groves Comprehensive Plan 2025. With the last plan dating back to 1978, there was a desire to update it, and in this episode Ben breaks the surface on what this plan is all about, it’s goals and objectives, and shares that facts that are included in this “visionary roadmap designed to guide the community’s physical, economic, and social landscape over the next 10 to 20 years”.

LOCAL INVOLVEMENT IS VITAL!

Follow the show on Instagram @benbroghammershow

Following the show on X @benbroghammer

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube: The Ben Broghammer Show on all platforms

Get in touch: https://www.broghammerstrategies.com/contact

The Ben Broghammer Show is powered by Broghammer Strategies Group. “Our business is helping yours reach its full potential.”

“Just the Facts!”

Topic Sources:

• https://www.webstergrovesmo.gov/100/Budget
• https://www.webstergrovesmo.gov/798/Comprehensive-Plan-2025
• https://www.timesnewspapers.com/webster-kirkwoodtimes/city-projects-budget-shortfall-of-1-2-million/article_df058478-a076-49b0-b691-e7db4d5f976d.html
• https://www.firstalert4.com/2025/05/07/due-uncertain-economy-webster-groves-considering-tax-hike/
• https://www.metrostlouis.org/

Welcome to the show! In this inaugural episode, we discuss big topics of the week: St. Louis County Executive Sam Page published his recommended business plan and budget for 2026 on Oct. 1, and it is packed with tax increases. Yesterday, Former U.S. House Rep. Cori Bush returned to the spotlight, announcing her candidacy for Congress, a return in the hopes of winning back her the house seat she lost to current Congressman Wesley Bell in the 2024 Democratic primary.

The Facts and information shared will always be referenced.

Here is what we touched on in this episode:

• https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/homeowners-st-louis-increases-property-tax-assessment/63-cf06a026-29a5-4e27-936c-436f210ef83c

• https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/politics/st-louis-county-sam-page-indicted-misusing-public-funds-prop-b-flyer-grand-jury/63-e84eb399-5d8b-4ca7-a646-f48907bd5ef3

• https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/legal-expert-weighs-in-on-charges-against-county-exec/

• https://www.westnewsmagazine.com/news/st-louis-county-council-approves-budget-for-bi-state/article_0df28dd6-6c8e-11ef-9d8b-3f93f815f742.html

• https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/administration/fiscal-transparency/budgets/2025-recommended-budget1/

• https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/verify/did-cori-bush-really-deliver-2-billion-to-st-louis/63-e58bc059-870b-4512-b3e6-7fa61d3fb46c

• https://www.foxnews.com/media/former-squad-members-claim-democrats-wanted-10-trillion-build-back-better-bill.amp

• https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna136377

• https://www.foxnews.com/politics/husband-former-squad-rep-cori-bush-charged-wire-fraud-linked-covid-relief-funds-doj.amp

• https://www.zohranfornyc.com

• https://www.foxnews.com/politics/squad-dem-launches-comeback-bid-after-anti-israel-views-torpedoed-campaign-we-need-fighter.amp