CLAYTON — St. Louis County Executive Sam Page wants to use $59 million in Rams settlement funds to help cover a growing deficit in next year's budget.

St. Louis County faces a $61 million hole in its general fund, up from the $38.4 million deficit expected at the end of this year, according to the recommended budget Page's office released this week. Page also expects a $20 million shortfall in the health fund, though that is less than the expected $24.4 million deficit this year.

Page's total $1 billion budget request is down more than 8% from this year because of a proposal to cut to nearly 200 of the county's roughly 800 vacant positions, but more is needed.

"For the last several years, we've been able to rely on one-time fixes to balance the budget," Page wrote in a Wednesday memo to

See Full Page