Voter Guide

Simple majority required.Ballot wording: Shall the O'Fallon Fire Protection District impose a sales tax of one percent for the purpose of providing revenues for the operation of the O'Fallon Fire Protection District and the total property tax levy on properties in the O'Fallon 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: If passed, the sales tax on retail purchases within the district would increase by 1 cent to help pay for its services and to reduce property taxes. The measure requires the district's property tax rate to drop by an amount producing revenue equal to half of the previous year's revenue from the sales tax hike. Supporters say the measure would allow property owners and the wider population using these services to share the cost of providing them. District officials estimate that $16.2 million of additional net revenue would be raised to help the district meet increasing costs and replace aging equipment. Critics say sales taxes are regressive and the region's sales taxes are too high.