St. Louis County's newest audit says some of the same procedural holes that once let former County Executive Steve Stenger steer leases and land deals to political donors are still sitting in the books. The draft report, headed to the County Council on Tuesday, flags weak oversight of long-term leases and property swaps and raises fresh doubts about how fully the county followed through on post-2019 reform promises. County officials are expected this week to respond and sketch out what happens next.
As reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, auditors concluded that gaps in policy and county ordinances still let senior staff and the executive's office influence who landed county leases, approve land swaps without solid appraisals, and sign sizeable contracts without a thorough cost analysis. The Post-Dispatch story by Kelsey Landis notes that the audit is set to appear on the council's agenda Tuesday for discussion and potential action.
Audit Revisits the 2019 Corruption Case
The findings echo the federal investigation that wrapped up in 2019, when prosecutors said Stenger steered county business to campaign contributors in exchange for donations and fundraising help. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Stenger pleaded guilty to honest-services bribery and mail fraud and received a 46-month prison sentence.
What the State Audit Flagged
Many of the current problems trace back to a 2020 review by the Missouri State Auditor. That report found the county had signed a 20-year Northwest Crossings lease expected to cost about $67 million, traded 60.94 acres appraised at roughly $1.37 million for 15 acres appraised at about $560,000, shifted around $3.78 million in personnel costs, and allowed roughly $348,000 in unauthorized bonuses at the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. The auditor said those issues grew out of weak council oversight, incomplete appraisals, and selection committees that were open to influence, and urged the county to shore up its processes.
Council Reaction and Next Steps
The new audit is listed on the county's public meeting calendar and is expected to be taken up by council members and county officials at Tuesday's session, where lawmakers can weigh ordinance changes and stronger audit oversight. According to the county's meeting portal, staff and the county auditor are scheduled to brief the council on proposed ordinance amendments and on timelines for putting any fixes in place.
For taxpayers, the stakes are straightforward: long leases, uneven land swaps, and weak procurement controls can cost millions and concentrate power in the executive's office. How the council moves over the coming weeks will determine whether the county finally closes the loopholes auditors have flagged or settles for another round of cosmetic fixes.
