A renewed push for consolidating St. Louis City and St. Louis County is underway, as State Rep. Ian Mackey, a Democrat from Richmond Heights, pre-filed legislation aimed at creating a single political entity. According to a report by The Business Journals, the proposed constitutional amendment would place the matter before voters as early as November 2026. Mackey, using language similar to the discontinued Better Together plan, envisions forming a "metropolitan council" that would govern the newly united region.
In an effort to restart the conversation about the merger, the proposal by Mackey reflects a sense of urgency to address longstanding regional issues. "What are we doing sitting around talking about problems we've had longer than I've been alive?" Mackey questioned in a statement obtained by The Business Journals. His initiative comes as both the city and county continue to lose population, despite steady economic and job growth. With significant political heads turning towards a more aggressive approach to St. Louis, including a proposed state takeover of city police, the response from Republican supermajorities in the House and Senate will be critical. The yet-to-be-scheduled hearing for the bill mimics the plan which was emphasized, not dissolving school district or police and fire lines, for managing the region.
Mackey's resolution would require statewide approval to merge the two entities into what would be known as the "Metropolitan City of Saint Louis." As per reports from First Alert 4, the seat of power for this proposed government would be placed in the current St. Louis City Hall.
However, regardless of these efforts, some remain skeptical. "We work closely with the county. We see no need to consolidate when strong partnerships are already in place," said a spokesperson for St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones in an email to First Alert 4. And almost echoing identically, St. Louis County's Executive Sam Page's spokesperson stated, "We work closely with the city. We see no need to consolidate when strong partnerships are already in place."
The initiative for consolidation aims at addressing issues like government redundancy, improving service delivery, and tackling the economic challenges faced by a region defined by its distinct city-county divide. The separation, often referred to as "The Great Divorce," dates back to 1876 and the proposed merger has been a subject of contention and discussion for decades. According to FOX2now, the proposal by Rep. Ian Mackey introduces a resolution for the 103rd General Assembly, set to start on January 8, rekindling the debate on the structure of regional governance in the St. Louis area.
