ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - 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 funds, up from a $38 million deficit originally predicted. Page also expects a $20 million shortfall in the health fund.

Several factors are contributing to the growing deficit, including a pay boost for police and county workers, the cost of next year's elections, leasing space for county department and a decrease in the expected tax revenue from marijuana sales.

In a letter Page wrote Wednesday to St. Louis County council members, he says "In the interim, to maintain services while we pursue structural solutions, we must transfer $59 million from the NFL Settlement F

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