Voter Guide

Simple majority required.Ballot wording: Shall St. Charles County Ambulance District impose a sales tax of 1% for the purpose of providing revenues for the operation of the St. Charles County Ambulance District and the total property tax levy on properties in the St. Charles County Ambulance 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. If passed, approximately $40 million in new revenue would be generated annually, with district property tax amounts to be reduced by one-half of that amount. The owner of a home worth $375,000 would see a property tax decrease of about $175, the district says. 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.