Voter Guide

Simple majority required.Ballot wording: Shall the Board of Directors of the High Ridge Fire Protection District impose a sales tax of an additional one-half (1/2) percent for the purpose of providing revenues for the operation of the High Ridge Fire Protection District, and the total property tax levy on properties in the High Ridge Fire Protection District shall be reduced annually by an amount which reduces property tax revenues by an amount equal to fifty percent of the previous year’s revenue collected from this sales tax?Summary: The measure would allow the district to raise its current half-cent sales tax, passed in 2006, to 1 cent as now permitted by state law. If passed, about $2.6 million in additional sales tax revenue would be generated annually. District property tax revenue would have to be reduced by one-half of the increase, resulting in a projected property tax reduction of $75 to $100 a year for the average homeowner. The increase in revenue would enable the district to meet increasing costs, improve service and decrease response times. Supporters say the measure would provide a more equitable way to share the costs of providing service while providing property tax relief. Opponents say the sales tax is regressive and that the region's sales taxes are too high.