ST. LOUIS • The Board of Aldermen took another step Monday to put a soccer stadium on the St. Louis municipal ballot in April.

The board voted 17-9 to perfect a bill that would allocate $60 million to the construction of a 22,000-seat stadium west of Union Station. Private investors would spend about $95 million on the stadium and an additional $150 million for securing a Major League Soccer franchise.

If the board gives the bill final approval on Friday, the city's legal counsel will ask a circuit judge to  put it on the April 4 ballot. The board missed the 10-week deadline last week to approve ballot measures. The judge would have until Feb. 21 to approve the petition.

The soccer stadium project also would require approval of a half-cent sales tax increase for MetroLink, public safety and other city services by the board and a judge for the April ballot. Funding for the soccer stadium would come from a corresponding half-cent increase in the city’s business use tax if voters approve the MetroLink sales tax increase.

 Aldermen were still debating the MetroLink bill for perfection Monday. If aldermen approve it Monday, it will go for a final vote Friday.