CLAYTON – St. Louis County will spend $3.5 million less for highway construction because of falling sales tax revenue.

St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley has asked the county council to reduce by that amount the money the county can use for highway construction projects from a half-cent transportation sales tax.

This years county budget anticipated that the county would spend $22,025,047 from that tax’s revenue for highway work. But collections from the tax are about 8 percent below the same period last year. Tax revenue will remain depressed because of the recession, Pamela Reitz, director of administration, said.

Sheryl Hodges, director of highway and traffic and public works, on Tuesday said the reduction would not affect the county’s plan to extend the Maryland Heights Expressway from Page Avenue to Olive Boulevard. Otherwise, she is not sure where the county would impose the cutback.