Q&A: Possible Debt-Ceiling Repercussions? County Layoffs, Delays

If the U.S. Congress doesn't raise the debt ceiling by Tuesday, layoffs and increased property taxes might be among the results in St. Louis County, Chief Operating Officer Garry Earls said.

In light of the Tuesday deadline for Congress to raise the federal debt ceiling, Clayton-Richmond Heights Patch spoke with St. Louis County's chief operating officer, Garry Earls, about what might happen if lawmakers cannot find common ground on the matter. If the debt ceiling isn't raised, what could happen to county employees who are funded with federal grants? We have 176 employees in St. Louis County who are paid using federal grants. Some of those work in the employment office, the crime lab and the community development office. Money has already been appropriated, but if the federal government isn't paying its bills, we won't be able to provide those services. There would have to be layoffs. What would happen with roadway projects …

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