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On Friday, St. Louis Metro's board approved a $232.4 million operating budget for fiscal-year 2011.

The budget includes funds to restore transit services that were cut in 2009, and freezes salaries and hiring.

The agency remains under tight budget restrictions despite the passage of a half-cent sales tax for St. Louis County in April, said Metro President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Baer in a prepared statement. The sales tax will not begin to be collected until July 1 and Metro will not start receiving funds until late September.

Metro’s board also approved a recommendation to delay fare increases — which were slated to go into effect July 1 — until 2011.