On this episode, Ben recaps recent council meeting, including the St. Louis County Council where Sam Page requested supplemental funding just 6 days into the year, and Webster Groves tabled proposed sales tax increases. Candidates are announcing, including St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman who is looking to becoming the next County Executive, and some of Cori Bush’s recent posts on X are fact checked.

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

“Just the Facts!”

Topic Sources:

https://stlouisco.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Id=26478

https://boxcast.tv/channel/wdeojvfau9uqc9qt6k8z?b=pkqmit4qkkwotmqemdkd

https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/jake-zimmerman-joins-race-for-st-louis-county-executive/

https://www.stlmag.com/news/where-are-they-now-st-louis/

https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-michael-brown-business-government-and-politics-1c6eac1d893cf8968aa5ca907cb08c98

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmo/pr/former-st-louis-county-executive-seven-v-stenger-sentenced-federal-prison-pay-play

https://mec.mo.gov/#gsc.tab=0

https://fox2now.com/news/national/what-to-know-about-trump-administration-freezing-federal-child-care-funds/

https://www.npr.org/2026/01/03/nx-s1-5665617/venezuela-nicolas-maduro-charges

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!

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

“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!

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

“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