FERGUSON — The city council here is working to end the nine-year-old consent decree that ordered the overhaul of Ferguson's police and municipal courts.

This week, the council voted 4-3 to reduce the amount the city spends on the decree.

The move cuts some decree-related spending for the next fiscal year, starting July 1, to $206,350 from $412,700.

Councilman Nick Kasoff, who sponsored the motion, said at the Tuesday meeting the fund left would only cover the first half of the year. He said his goal is to try to get the decree phased out by the end of December.

That would require approval of the federal judge overseeing the decree.

The council's cut wouldn't reduce city spending on related police training.

"We believe training the police department to do the right thing is a good thi

See Full Page