ST. LOUIS - The City of Bellefontaine Neighbors held a packed Board of Aldermen meeting Thursday for the first time since city employees walked off the job last month.

City Hall was filled to capacity with residents and employees calling for an end to a financial deadlock. Not only was the budget in the discussion, but several alderpersons did not agree to hire a CPA to conduct an audit.

Only police and other essential staff have been working since the employee walkout on Oct. 25, which has largely shut down city operations. On the agenda Thursday was a new budget proposal, one that’s been stalled for months due to ongoing disagreements.

Alderwoman Theresa Hester emphasized the urgency of passing the budget, saying they’ve had five months to review it. The mayor emphasized the message, reminding the board that city staff, including police, have gone without raises for two years.

“I don’t understand that if the budget is a working document. I’ve worked for companies; we’ve checked our budget quarterly. We reacted at the end of each quarter to adjust the budget. That’s the way businesses run it, at least the world I came from,” Alderman Wesley Gillespie said.

But other aldermen, including Alderwoman Alicia, argued that parts of the budget need revision by removing and adding items to the budget She raised concerns that certain lines needed adjustments, which is stalling the approval process once again.

“I don’t have a problem or issue. With the budget, it’s just certain things that are in the budget that I would have questions in regards to," she said.

The mayor assured the board that any contentious items related to her office, such as funds for credit cards or training, could be removed if that’s what it takes to reach an agreement.

Despite passionate pleas from residents and several aldermen, a final vote on the budget remains up in the air.

The budget was not passed with rejections from Alderwomen Alicia Smith, Alease Dailes, Regina Harmon Ward, and Board President James Thomas.