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ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - St. Louis city leaders finalized the budget for next fiscal year, but not without last-minute changes due to the police board giving top brass raises last week.

Police said they already had the money budgeted to give command staff raises up to 22%. But because the city charter mandates firefighters get equal raises, city leaders had to find more than a million dollars from the original budget to give to the fire department.

Most of that money was cut from the police department's judgment account, which pays for lawsuits against officers.

A special meeting was held by the Board of Aldermen on Monday to perfect the changes so they can pass the budget before the deadline next week.

 While I may be frustrated by the actions of the police department, I feel confident in the budget in front of us,  said Rasheen Aldridge, St. Louis alderman.  Outside of this budget, we're giving city employees three percent raises, and we made some huge additions to various departments that had asked for that support. 

Other changes approved included adding positions in the forestry department, the city's jail and the building division.

The overall city budget totals more than $1.4 billion, with police getting about $220 million - $30 million less than they have been asking for.

Outside of the police budget, there is also $53 million designated for public health, safety and violence prevention.

Nearly $8.5 million will address dangerous and derelict buildings.

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